Update From A War Zone

A report from Pastor Alex Zaytsev in Avdiivka, Ukraine, and an update about what locals are doing to help Ukrainian refugees in North Central Washington

Pastor Alex Zaytsev is in Avdiivka, in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, providing humanitarian relief to the citizens of his war-torn community.

Alex was born in Ukraine and raised in the Wenatchee Valley. Now he’s leading a team delivering food, water, and other essentials to embattled Ukrainians. Some of them are hiding in basements due to Russian forces' shelling and missile attacks.

Alex’s sister Olga Rybakov lives in Wenatchee and is helping to welcome Ukrainian refugees to the area. She sent the clips, which I have assembled into one video file below, to the Friends of Ukraine Refugees Committee on May 23 and wrote:

“I wanted to give you an update on Alex. He is back in Myrnograd. Today, he was able to deliver food to the people of Avdiivka. It was needed. Many residents are hiding in the bomb shelters without a way to purchase food, for there is none in the city to purchase. I am attaching videos that Alex recorded. He delivered food along with Eugene (our missionary) and Sergey (a volunteer). I am thankful to the Lord for keeping them safe. Thank you for praying.”

“…shelling close to us. Hear some whistling in the air. Forced to take shelter in the bushes here,” he says.

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I can’t imagine what it would be like to be in Alex’s shoes. He and his team are showing true bravery in serving their community like this. The danger is real, but so are the needs of the people to whom they are providing a lifeline.

I have interviewed Alex before on “Common Sense with Dominick Bonny,” and if you’d like to learn more about him and what he’s doing for people in his region of Ukraine, you can watch that here:

If you’d like to donate to help Alex in his mission, there are a couple of ways to do that. Olga said that all funds contributed go directly to assisting Ukrainians.

Here are instructions on how to help from Olga:

“Hi Dominick, here is the info on the non-profit donation.

1) A donation through 501C3 WA state non-profit organization "Mission VHF." This option will get you a tax-deductible receipt at the end of the year.

Checks can be made out and sent to:

Mission VHF

630 Valley Mall Pkwy #481

East Wenatchee WA 98802

2) A second way is via Venmo:

Venmo: @Mission-VHF

Indicate "For Ukraine" in the comment.

If you would like to get a tax-deductible receipt for your Venmo donation, please e-mail missionvhf7@gmail.com to request one. I usually send them out in January of each year, right before most people do their taxes.

3) If you would like to set up a monthly withdrawal to donate monthly to Mission VHF, I can send you a form to fill out.

Please e-mail missionvhf7@gmail.com to request a form. This is a secure platform through the Cashmere Valley Bank ACH program. Your donation will get withdrawn around the 20th of each month.

Thank you for your support!”

Olga was also a guest on the last episode of “Common Sense” and did the translating, helping the Bukovtsov family share their story.

You can watch that whole episode here:

Here locally, the Friends of Ukraine Refugees committee is working to welcome refugee families like the Bukovstovs and find them housing, get the parents jobs and get the kids in school.

To assist in that area, I have created a Facebook page and group so people can follow along as well as a Venmo account (@friendsofukrainerefugees) for that newly-established non-profit organization.

And on Sunday, May 22, the committee put on a benefit concert in Wenatchee to raise money for refugee families in our region. The Gladsong Choir, led by Tim Myers, performed pro bono. Here’s the choir singing “Our House” by Graham Nash.

According to committee member Jean Speidel, 300 people attended the concert and the event raised, “$22,000 to help stabilize refugees from the war in Ukraine.”

She says that the committee has now successfully completed long-term leases and secured housing for three refugee families, but help is still need and additional volunteers are welcome.

“Judith Lurie, Maria Hansen and Dee Ann Gregg have been instrumental in these housing projects. It is time intensive. Landlords must be found, refugee families must be consulted, and individual needs must be considered,” Speidel said. “As a result of the concert, eight additional Ukrainian refugee families have been identified who need housing. Maria Hansen and Brian Fuson will lead the effort to secure leased housing for these families in the coming weeks. Friends of Ukraine Refugees welcomes additional help. Please call Dee Ann Gregg at (503) 801-4048 if you would like to volunteer.”

Here’s Olga with the refugee families singing the Ukrainian national anthem.