Our humanitarian mission in Ukraine – January 4-10, 2026 has ended successfully. All participants are now at home. Tired, but whole and grateful. We are once again feeling the comfort of home and the love of our loved ones – things that we appreciate even more after this time. I want to thank from the bottom of my heart everyone who was with us – in word and action. For the support, for the donated funds, for the prayers, for every kind word. None of this was “just a gesture” – everything ended up where it needed to be. After a short break and some sleep, we share a detailed photo report and more details about our mission in Ukraine.
22 HUMANITARIAN TRANSPORT – UKRAINE
Our group consisted of 4 people – p-r Stoyan Slavchev, p-r Angel Pilev, Mari Pileva and Stoil – p-r Slavchev’s second driver. Everyone gathered in Ruse on the evening of January 4th with 2 packed minivans and 1 trailer, and with prayer we set off!
A long, painful journey through Romania and into the center of Ukraine, where the group’s first stop was, lay ahead. Ukraine greeted us cold and dark! The weather was getting colder and it was already snowing in Ukraine and the temperatures dropped significantly and the wind was blowing. With God’s help and prayer on January 5th, at -13 degrees, we arrived in Vyshnevets, where we unloaded some of the humanitarian aid for the church’s missionary work: diapers, Christmas boxes, food products, hygiene materials, and modest financial assistance to several families in crisis. After a short stay and a meal, we continued on to Khomutets, Zhytomyr region. In the evening, very tired, we unloaded the cargo and discussed with p-r Sergey the schedule for ministry in the coming days.
January 6th started with a service in the church in Khomutets at 8:00 am. All the guests spoke the Word and encouraged the early-rising church, sang together to God and prayed for the success of God’s work in Ukraine. It is delightful for me to see at 8:00 am. a service with such a youth praise group and a significant number of believers in church! Every morning! These active believers are far from our local excuses and justifications for being late and not going to church, but are gathered early for prayer, songs and the Word of God, because no one knows until the evening who will survive!
It is war! And their actions are MILITARY AND URGENT! The church is active in evangelization and assistance to those in need. Their youth are constantly traveling to the front and back to bring brochures, gospels, food and clothing to the military. It is war! Thinking is sharp, resourceful and adequate! Their believers are not lulled to sleep by carelessness and laziness, by Turkish TV movies and moderately stable everyday life. The church prays boldly, fights to preserve faith and to give it out every day! The church in Ukraine is very similar to the Early church of the 1st century – brave, bold, ready to sacrifice and dedicated to God!
After shopping for fruit and snacks, our team visited the wounded soldiers and civilians in the hospital in Zhytomyr in p-r Pilev’s jeep. It is forbidden to take „severe“ photos of the sick there, because they are strategic military objects. Not because they are not important, but because the pain in them is real. Gifts that seem small, but presented with great respect. Their looks said more than words. We thanked them for their courage and sacrifice; we gave them something on behalf of the Bulgarian people. We prayed with some. We simply talked with others. We hugged some. And in such moments, you feel how you do not leave the same — a part of your heart remains there, in this room, next to these people.
The day continues with an evangelistic meeting at the TELE-communication Center in Zhitomir, where they gathered 400 children with illnesses with their parents – it is unique. Everyone listened attentively to what God has put in our hearts to share! We sang the song „Red Kalina“ together and finally, after the prayer, we distributed gifts to them! There was joy, there was excitement and hope! Witnessing, singing, distribution of food and health products, newspapers and calendars, prayer for the sick… Time flew by! Our team is enthusiastic and blessed to serve souls thirsty for God!
The principal of Khomutets high school, Lyubov, invited us to her home in the village of Brosilov, despite the advanced stage of cancer. And despite the fact that she herself is „melting“, her smile did not leave her face. We left money for the expensive treatment and prayed for her! A little encouragement and words of hope in God!
In the evening, we returned tired and satisfied to the home of p-r Sergey and his family. We talked, prayed and fell asleep late, after debates for the next day.
7.01.26, after the morning service with ministers and a speech delivered by p-r Stoyan Slavchev, our BG group visited the school staff in a bomb shelter built with donations received from your generosity and mercy, dear friends! Thank you!
The speech was delivered by p-r Pilev. We prayed that every seed of Truth will germinate in Ukrainian hearts for eternal life! AMEN! All children and teachers listened attentively to the Christmas program with „light and shadow“ from a youth group from Rovno, the Word of God, the songs and finally the Ukrainian children received a Christmas boxex, specially sent by our friends in Scotland – Blythswood and CCC-Inverness! We thank them from the bottom of our hearts for making us a channel for blessing and joy for the children’s souls in Ukraine! Twice in the bomb shelter the central power supply was interrupted and then our generators, donated from our previous visits, were turned on. After the program, the teaching staff gathered and each of the group shared the Christmas Word and we again distributed Shoe boxes.
On January 7 in the village of Lisivska, Zhytomyr region, the Bulgarian team visited a large family with 9 children – 7 adopted. P-r Slavchev purchased a generator for the family, oil, gasoline so that their home could be lit and heated! The cold was stopped there! Not with words, but with actions. With the joint efforts of friends, the school, kindergarten and medical service were supported with fuel for the generators. Now there is light, there is heat. There are children who will not shiver from the cold tonight. This is the power of the community.
The same day we visited another bomb shelter built by a hero-volunteer in Lisichevo. The rooms were so picturesquely decorated with children’s fairy-tale paintings + garlands and Christmas decorations so that the children hiding there could not feel fear and danger from the falling bombs.
On 08.01.26, our BG group left at dawn in winter conditions and sub-zero temperatures for Kiev! Many meetings with various organizations and people were ahead: First was a visit to the state institution Save Ukraine – the protective dormitory for those redeemed from captivity and from the territories occupied by the Russians – Luhansk and Donetsk regions, as well as children left without parents. We held a meeting with the leadership, different age groups and single parents. There the Bulgarian group testified about Christmas and explained the reason for presenting the gifts from Blysthwood and CCC, to share the Christmas joy and to assure them that they are not alone. P-r Pilev donated €1000 for gasoline for the generators from his church.
Then we visited the office of New Post, where a meeting took place with representatives of ZSU – Valeri and Victoria. There, 12 generators and other necessary needs for various divisions of military units were paid for. We handed over medicines, thermal underwear, diapers, coffee and individual medical aid packages, backpacks and first aid kits. P-r Stoyan handed over to Valeri money to buy 1 large sliced pig for canning – 600 cans and providing them to civilians and military personnel in need.
They had planned a surprise for us. At the Kiev Military Library of Officers and Veterans of Ukraine, we were welcomed very officially with a program by a national children’s choir with costumes and Christmas songs. Also, present were deputies of the Ukrainian Parliament, active military personnel who received humanitarian aid from us. The head of this Department presented us with honorary diplomas, flags of various military units with signatures of their commanders, well-wishes and medals for merit in our 4th year of volunteer work for Ukraine. We were amazed at the recognition and respect for us! We made new friends! We left solar systems and a generator for lighting and charging electrical appliances! We parted with a prayer!
After this exciting meeting, it was dark outside, sirens sounded. We had 2 hours to leave Kiev. Later, we learned that after our departure, Kiev had been bombed again!
We said Good Bye to p-r Father Sergey after 100 km, having a pleasant surprise with a youth group from his church, who saw us off with songs. There they had already purchased flour with the money donated by friends in Scotland, needed for socially vulnerable and injured citizens and the bakery for the churches in Kherson.
The weather blocked the roads, the blizzard and the cold caused tracks and cars to turn around, blocking the road. We were forced to stay in a hotel in the city of Rovno at 2.30. This led to a response from women in need of transport to Bulgaria, living in Rovno, and we took them in our cars. They turned out to be important partners in the volunteer work in Bulgaria for refugees – Ukrainians, families with children and widows from the war.
On January 9, we arrived in Vyshnevets in the whirlwind and ice, took our trailer and continued to the border after a short stay and a meeting with the pastor and deacons of the church. The delay did not allow us to visit the planned visit to the local hospital for 50 wounded soldiers. To our joy, the church deacons visited the hospital instead of us and donated detergents, diapers, fruit and our empathy. Later we received photos of their visit with thanks from the soldiers.
At the border, the fingerprint recognition system was frozen from the cold and we were forced to wait for 6 hours in the cold, blizzard. To our joy, Romania has opened 200 km of highway, which accelerated our journey. We entered Bulgaria at 14.00 and at 17.00 I was in Sliven with the 3 women from Ukraine.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank all of you who continue to support our humanitarian missions in Ukraine. Your support turns into a touch, into a prayer, into hope — where it is most needed.
First interim report from the humanitarian mission January 2026 – in support of the ZSU and the civilian population in Ukraine!
During this trip in support of the ZSU, the following were delivered:
- 10 pcs. inverter generators 3.5 kW – Kiev
- 1 pc. inverter generator 8.5 kW – Brusilov, Zhytomyr region
- 42 sets of quality thermal underwear
- 32 pcs. solar stations
- 20 pcs. tactical lanterns
- 20 pcs. solar power banks
- 500 kg of paraffin for trench candles
- 2 boxes of anti-cold medicines and vitamins
- 2 boxes of chemical hand and foot warmers.
- 20 boxes of food and canned goods
Fuel for generators:
- For the children from Save Ukraine – 1000 liters (worth 1000 euros)
- For Brusilov – family center, Khomutets and Lysivka – 500 liters
1 pig for ZSU, Generator, gasoline and oil – for a large family, Social and financial assistance for 8 families, Christmas boxes – 360 from Blythswood and CCC and 15 food packages from Sofia Church, Hygiene materials, Diapers, Clothes and hats, gloves, scarves for adults and children, Child seats and strollers for young families, Batteries for lighting, Food products. Hundreds of boxes of gifts were distributed to the children from Vyshnevets, Zhytomyr and Kiev to create a festive mood.
Another 100 boxes are traveling this week to the children in Donbass.
I am sure I am missing some smaller details, but this is the general picture of what was done.
I express my sincere gratitude to all of you who responded to my appeal to raise funds for generators, medicines, solar stations, thermal underwear and paraffin.
The total amount raised by p-r Pilev exceeded 12,500 euros, collected in about 40 days. P-r Slavchev managed to collect €3,500, donated by Martin Wunderlich, ECC-Sliven and some rural churches, the Church in Kableshkovo, Blythswood and CCC-Inverness.
Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will periodically share videos and photos of the fighters on the front, as well as photos and stories with children and civilians whom we have managed to help!
We are planning another humanitarian mission in early spring, which I will inform you about in due time.
Thank you to all of you who are helping!
Praise the Lord!
p-r Stoyan Slavchev