Samaritan’s Purse is helping small-scale farmers in Ukraine rebuild grain storehouses damaged in the war.
Samaritan’s Purse is helping Ukrainians in Jesus’ Name to rebuild their economy, in part, by repairing grain storehouses damaged or destroyed in the war. In addition to supplying much needed food to communities, each storehouse serves as a symbol of hope and God’s provision to war-weary residents.
“Farming is the lifeblood of Ukraine,” said Samaritan’s Purse Ukraine Country Director Ryan Lane. “For generations, it has been known as the breadbasket of Europe, and so farming has remained a highly respected vocation throughout the country. With the onslaught of attacks coming from Russian military forces, thousands of farms and agricultural centers across Ukraine have been destroyed, and so the people who are a part of this proud farming tradition are facing immense hardships.”
“It is a privilege to be able to show these brave families how much God loves them, and how well the Church can support them.”
Before the war, brothers Andriy* and Borys* made a quiet life of working with their hands farming the Kherson region of Ukraine. Every year they planted and harvested wheat and sunflowers, which provided food for their entire community and region. Like many in their town of roughly 700 people, they worked the land for survival. Harvests were good, though, and just over two years ago they expanded their farming operation to include a grain storehouse, oil refinery, mill, and additional land.
Occupied by the Enemy
But enemy forces ripped apart their idyllic life in March 2022 when they invaded and occupied the town. Roughly 500 residents fled. For the first three months of this occupation, both brothers and their wives endured under the foreign presence and tried to live peacefully.
Andriy’s wife, Kateryna*, served as the local school principal, and was vocal in her pro-Ukrainian beliefs. As her perspective became increasingly known by the occupying forces, they made life even more difficult for the couple. Unable to take the persecution any longer, Andriy and Kateryna fled to a Ukrainian-held part of the country, leaving their farm behind.
Anna, Borys, Andriy, and Kateryna
In their absence, the Russian forces moved in and used their land as a base to launch artillery shells further into Ukraine. This damaged their grain storehouse, mill, and refinery, and looters stripped away what remained.
Even after their relatives left, Borys and his wife, Anna*, struggled on in the occupied town. They had no access to water, gas, or electricity. Enemy threats and artillery assaults became normal. As relentless shelling tore apart much of their home, they survived only because they sheltered in their basement.
Prepared to Plant Again
By November 2022, nine months after the initial invasion, Ukrainian forces liberated the village. Andriy and Kateryna promptly returned home to find only destruction. Their first priority was to “prepare [their] outside work” (Proverbs 24:27) and get their farm and equipment up and running again.
Samaritan’s Purse staff came alongside Andriy and Boris and their families to help them rebuild.
Samaritan’s Purse worked through its grain storehouse restoration project to repair their damaged building, giving it a new roof among other improvements. As our staff worked on these repairs, Andriy and Borys were able to work on getting their tractors running again so they could begin thinking of planting in spring 2023.
Samaritan’s Purse worked to restore the brothers’ grain storehouse which is utilized by over 100 people.
But before they could resume the familiar labor they loved, a sobering task was needed. Russian forces had left behind mines and other unexploded ordnance in the fields that had to be cleared. With a shortage of professional de-miners in Ukraine, Andriy and Borys tackled the risky job on their own, and soon were back to planting and, in time, harvesting.
After the enemy occupation, shrapnel and mines riddled the fields on Andriy’s and Borys’ farm.
Poised to Thrive
In October 2024, Samaritan’s Purse completed their storehouse so they could put grain in it again and serve the more than 100 other people who store their crops at their facility. This is just one of seven grain storehouse repairs we have completed since January for small town farmers in Ukraine.
Crops like this sunflower seed can now be stored clean and dry in the storehouses Samaritan’s Purse restored in Ukraine.
“As Christians, we are glad to be able to step into the lives of these farmers, and give a helping hand in the midst of the ongoing suffering of war,” Lane said. “The farmers feed the people, and so it is a privilege to be able to show these brave families how much God loves them, and how well the Church can support them.”
Please pray for Andriy and Borys as they prepare to plant corn and wheat next spring. Ask God to show favor to them and other Ukrainian farmers as they work hard to provide for their families and communities as war rages on around them.
*Name changed.
