Kherson Initiative
Since late February 2022 the Russian Army had been deploying missiles and bombs in Kherson. Despite the valiant efforts of the local population and Ukrainian army it seems that in late April 2022 there is now a Russian-army backed administration forcibly installed with currency change and other changes happening on a weekly basis.
Through a contact we have known for over 20 years and through a local minister we are able to provide weekly support for some people in greatest need (including those who have been bombed out of their houses). In addition we support a Cooks project where the local community buy food and cook each day to support orphans, those in hospital as well as emergency service workers. Please see the link here to the latest photos and videos from the Kherson area.
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News & Information
7/5/23 We continue to have monthly Zoom calls with some of the key members of the team, on the ground in Kherson. The situation is still very desperate as bombings are a daily danger and resources are still very scarce. The bravery of our trusted partners who keep contact with those in need is incredible.
We continue to support those remaining in the area with food and medicines, along with other daily needs so that they have some degree of normality in their lives.
Clean water is a challenge as much of the infrastructure is damaged/destroyed. We have been able to help fund some water purification systems to help in this regard and these are now up and running, done in really quick time. It is great to have trusted partners in the heart of the city so that we know the money we send is used effectively and efficiently.
The people we are helping continue to be so grateful for our ongoing help and support. We are one of the few organisations that are providing sustained, sutainable, and targeted help. Some of the peope tell us that they would not have survived without the support of UCP each month.
Please continue in your fundraising efforts to help us continue our support and to do more where it is needed. Thank you.
9/4/23 Thank you to everyone involved in the 2 events that happened recently. We really appreciate all the effort and both evenings went very well and lots of people had a great time.
We told our friends in Kherson about the events and they were thrilled to think that there is still concern and support for them. They are very touched, knowing that they are not forgotten.
12/3/23 COMING UP ....... here are details of 2 events coming up in the run up to Easter. Get your diaries out and make it a date so that you can have a great evening and help raise funds for UCP to allow us continue supporting people in Ukriane.
Friday 24th March 7.30pm (ticket only from £18)
Ukrainian Women's Choir "Two Colours" with Hugh Bonneville
Venue: Churcher's College, Petersfield. GU31 4AS
(tickets must be bought in advance; money raised is for a medical evacuation vehicle)
Buy tickets online:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/two-colours/t-gajexeq
Wednesday 5th April 7.30pm (free entry)
"Lent Music for Ukraine" The Free Radicals
Venue: St Peter's Church, Petersfield.
Put these dates in your diary and please come along and support one or both events. Thank you..
12/3/23 Last night (Saturday) saw a wonderful "Concert for Peace" from The Petersfield Choir at St Peter's Church, Petersfield. Funds were raised for UCP and we want to thank everyone involved for their ongoing support. It was a wonderful night and there are a few more coming up in Petersfield in the next few weeks ..... watch out for more news here about them.
1/1/23 Christmas has seen the ongoing consequences of the conflict effecting the lives of everyone in the Kherson region. The continual rocket attacks and disruption to heating and electricity has made meant a time of ongoing hardship, danger and uncertainty.
We continue to get our money to our dedicated and brave team on the ground and they continue to tirelessly help those in most need.
The winter means that our efforts at UCP need to increase so that we can keep up the support for the various iniatives we have going, and to also find ways to help the new challenges that the people of Kherson are facing.
Supply of food, the Cooks' Project and finances where needed means that the money donated through UCP continues to have an immediate impact to those in most need on the ground.
We are finding ways to help support the need for heat and light as the effects of the rocket attacks on the countries infrastructure have devastating effects during this harsh winter time.
18/11/22 We welcome the news that there has been some success in pushing back the Russian army to the east bank of the Dnipro River. We have had encouraging reports from the people we are managning to support in the Kherson region in recent weeks.
However, dealing with what the Russian Troups have done before they pulled out, along with the rebuilding of the towns and city is a challenge. The coming winter only adds to the suffering.
We continue to have regular meetings with our friends on the ground in Kherson and direct the donations we receive directly to those in most need.
We need everyone's help to keep donations coming in so that we can continue to do what we can during these difficult times.
15/11/22 A huge thank you to Duddingston Kirk who raised over £1000 at their Craft Fair on 5th November. Your incredible hard work and the generosity of everyone who donated will help ensure more lives are touched and help is given where it is needed.
Thank you from all at UCP.
26/10/22 Are you close to Edinburgh in Scotland on ........
Bonfire Day 5th November!!!
If you are then go along to Duddingston Kirk Hall between 12noon and 4pm to visit the Craft Fair. It looks like it is going to be a great event. The proceeds are being given to us to help support the work we are doing in Kherson and our other villages.
We are so grateful to the people at Duddingston Kirk and all our supports for the prayers and finincial help that helps us do what we can to bring some comfort and love to those in Ukraine. Thank you.
21/10/22 We continue to get our financial support to our trusted partners on the ground, despite the escalation in the situation over recent weeks.
We are one of the few organisations who are able to get support directly to those who need it. Even the UN recently said it could not reach Kherson. Some of the large aid agencies have the same challenges.
The situation in Kherson is getting worse as the conflict has escalated in other regions again too. There is talk of forceable evacuations from Kherson and this is effecting many of the people who are part of our support network. Despite the increasingly difficult and dangerous daily life our support is still making a difference to the lives of so many.
06/10/22 At HTC Church in Claygate on Sunday we had a flying visit from one of our main people who is helping co-ordinate our efforts in Kherson. She was interviewed during the service and met people afterwards who wanted to hear more.
It was humbling to hear the messages coming back from the people in Kherson and how important it is for them to know that there are people in the UK thinking of them and caring enough to send support and to pray. We also heard that they are praying for us too.
20/09/22 As the situation in Kherson escalates we have taken the decision to blur the faces of supporters and beneficiaries in this region in order to protect their identity.
As the Russian Army continue to carry out house to house searches, including searching through social media, our photographic updates are becomming a security risk for our contacts. We will endeavour to keep our news updated as much as possible but our primary focus is keeping our support lines open and safe..
06/07/22 Thanks to UCP funding, the Minister has been able to extend help to a further 54 individuals in his area. This is despite increasingly dangerous situation, where both driving around and especially taking photos can be highly risky.
The Kherson Initiative is exercising extreme caution, to protect beneficiaries and volunteers.
01/06/22 Today we received a quote from one of the beneficiaries in the houses which we support with food:
"My name is Valentina, I live in the house that was damaged during shooting. Now at least we got our windows installed back. Thank you for that.
Because neither my husband nor I are receiving our pensions - we have no money, whatsoever, and we thought how are we to live? Thank you so much for this help - Because right now this is our only means of existence.
Thank you so much."
16/05/22 Today UCP members met the Minister over Zoom, who leads the initiative helping villages in the Kherson region.
The Minister emphasised how difficult the situation is right now and how grateful people are to feel support at this terrible times.
Our conversation had to end abruptly, as shooting started outside the Ministers building, and they had
to retreat to the shelter.
09/05/22 In the first stage of support of this initiative, UCP have provided targeted sponsorship of 'The Cooks Project’.
The cooking group, run by local people, can produce up to 800 meals per day to feed patients in Kherson children’s hospital, as well as in Kherson regional and city hospitals, and to emergency service workers and some small orphanages.
The funds UCP have pledged so far have been able to supply 340 meals and also covered expenses for transportation of the ingredients and meals to those in great need. The initiative have also been able to use some of the monies received from UCP to make a contribution to the utility bill for running the kitchen.
We have also sent specific targeted funding to support particular individuals in Kherson in greatest need as identified by the local pastor who personally visits them and delivers food and medical support on a regular basis. We hope to provide a fuller update shortly.