Samaritan’s Purse Mobile Dental Units in Ukraine are offering hope to the displaced with each filling and extraction performed.
Mouth mirrors, tooth explorers, and saliva ejectors may be among the most unusual instruments of peace during wartime. But for residents of Eastern Ukraine even the most basic dental care has been out of reach over the past three years. To help provide some relief to the war-weary, Samaritan’s Purse Mobile Dental Units (MDU) are offering free-of-charge services through local churches. Since 2024, the MDU has performed over 11,000 consultations, treating over 4,700 patients with cleanings, X-rays, fillings, extractions, root canals, and more to help point people to the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.
A displaced and disabled woman named Oleksandra* heard about the services of Samaritan’s Purse MDU when her pastor announced to her church that a dental team was coming to provide specialized care.
“We were amazed,” Oleksandra said. “Dental care is very expensive now and here it was—free!
“And not just free, but with such care! The doctor kept asking if I was comfortable, if it hurt. I felt special, something I never experienced before, even before the war.”
The dentist cleaned and polished Oleksandra’s teeth, a service she’d been forced to go without for three years.
A Once Cozy Hometown
Oleksandra remembers those pre-war days fondly. Born in the Luhansk region, she grew up to study and work in her same hometown.
“It was a cozy, beautiful place, where flowers grew,” she said. She misses her dacha, or cabin, there as well as the ice palace in town that brought in artists, singers, and dancers from surrounding areas. “My city was very dear to me.”
But beginning in 2014 when Russia invaded Crimea and parts of Eastern Ukraine, the enemy attacks interrupted her idyllic life.
“In 2014, the war only touched us, but 2022 changed everything. In the morning, bombs and rockets hit the city. The explosions didn’t just break the windows—the plastic frames were torn out from the ground.
“We still hoped it would be over soon, but we had to leave our homes. I hid in basements for a month, holding on to the hope that it would end. But no, the pain and suffering of our people have continued for three years,” Oleksandra said.
A True Gift from God
Today she lives in to another city over 400 miles away, where she, by God’s grace, learned of Samaritan’s Purse dental team.
“Before the treatment, I felt unwell because the dental deposits were accumulating, and over three years, the situation worsened significantly.”
“This assistance is a true gift from God,” Oleksandra said.
With all the necessary instruments available, dentists treated Oleksandra with excellent care, giving her sense of peace.
“Now I feel like it’s easier to breathe! Speaking is more pleasant, and my soul feels calmer. They cleaned my teeth completely, polished them, and all of it was done painlessly, with great care and professionalism.”
Mariam Potapenko, a Samaritan’s Purse medical coordinator in Ukraine, notes how invaluable the care of the MDU is for pensioners as well as the displaced. “For Oleksandra, access to proper dental care has been life-changing. It’s not just about health—it’s about restoring dignity, confidence, and the ability to smile again. In times of war, these small acts of care carry deep meaning.”
As a result of her dental visit, Oleksandra is now filled with a recently unfamiliar emotion—joy.
“This assistance is a true gift from God, not only for me but for all displaced people who are in such difficult conditions. I thank Samaritan’s Purse for their work! It’s priceless.”
*Name changed for security
