April 9, 2025
News
Hundreds of mangled windows, doors, and roofs, patched up with foil and blankets, are like war wounds on the fates of Ukrainian families holding onto their homes near the frontline. “Thanks to you, we finally sleep in warmth and eat breakfast without outerwear,“ says Hryhorij from the Lozuvatka village in the Dnipro region. His family was one of the most vulnerable households supported by Caritas Czech Republic to repair their shell-damaged homes.
Renovated houses become a symbol of community resilience
We provided financial assistance for small and medium repairs to 112 of the most affected households in the frontline areas around Kryvyi Rih and Nikopol in the Dnipro region, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and in partnership with ZOA Ukraine. These areas have been under constant Russian attack since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
"Every repaired roof, every new window and door is not just part of a building. It is a new beginning for people who have survived the hardships of war. It is a symbol that even in the most difficult times, we can help each other and together rebuild our communities' physical infrastructure and moral resilience," said our colleagues from ZOA.
Mr Hryhorij from the village of Lozuvatka used the Caritas Czech Republic funds to repair his damaged windows. The man expressed his gratitude for such help and the opportunity to feel the warmth of home again.
“I would like to thank the international organisations that continue to help and make the Ukrainian homes destroyed by the attacks habitable," said Mr Hryhorij.
Now my daughter can return home
Valeriy, 59, from the village of Hannivka, stayed with his daughter after his wife died. His house had been damaged twice by enemy attacks, but the family had no money for repairs. Valeriy works at an agricultural enterprise, it is a seasonal job with unstable earnings.
Mr Valeriy recalls that one of the shells exploded near his house and smashed the windows. Unable to repair them, the father and daughter moved to the barn. Later, the roof was damaged during the shelling, and Mr Valeriy's daughter fled to her relatives in the city.
Thanks to the financial assistance from Caritas Czech Republic, Valeriy repaired the roof, installed new windows and doors, and bought building materials to repair the walls.
"The house was half destroyed. There was no roof. I thought I would never be able to do the repairs and did not believe it was possible. Now my daughter can return home. Thank you for all that you do!" Valeriy says happily.
Providing support where it is needed most
Tetiana's family has been waiting for more than 7 months to return home. As a result of one of the massive attacks in the village, all 5 windows, the facade, and the roof of her house were damaged.
"One shell exploded behind our yard, another came straight into the garden. So we had to flee," says Tetiana.
As soon as it became safer in the village, she and her husband returned and began to restore the house. The family has no social benefits, and only her husband has a job. The family repaired the windows at their own expense. However, they had not enough money for more, so Tetiana was happy to get cash assistance from Caritas Czech Republic.
"We just won't be able to do it on our own. It would have taken us two years to raise the money. We are very pleased with the help and organisation. Thank you!" she says with gratitude.
In total, repairs were funded for 112 of the most vulnerable families. In cooperation with local authorities, we selected settlements in the Dnipro region where our partners from ZOA and New Life could work safely. People chose the materials and workers to repair their homes on their own.
Caritas Czech Republic in Ukraine
Caritas Czech Republic has been helping people in Ukraine since the beginning of the war. In addition to providing much-needed humanitarian aid, we provide shelter to internally displaced people in modular houses in western Ukraine. We are also improving living conditions in dormitories.
In western Ukraine, we support Ukrainians who have decided to stand on their own feet after evacuating from the war zone. Through mini-grants, we assist the restoration of livelihoods for people in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and the Transcarpathian region.
In eastern Ukraine, we improve the accessibility and quality of rehabilitation and reproductive medicine by modernising hospitals and educating staff.
Since 2025, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, we have been involved in setting up a network of Mental Health Centres in 4 regions: Dnipro, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Transcarpathia. In addition, Caritas Czech Republic supports Ukrainian educational institutions near the frontline by creating safe educational spaces, providing equipment, and funding psychological consultations and additional classes to help children catch up on their educational gaps.
In southern Ukraine, we are now working with partners to restore water supply in affected areas and set up mobile medical centres.
