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FRF first deployed to Ukraine in late March of 2022 to collaborate with our partners in the Global Logistics Cluster to develop a fuel strategy. After a short hiatus, we were back in Ukraine in late April 2022 and have been there since, working with and delivering free fuel to international and local aid agencies.
On February 24th, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine – causing the largest refugee crisis that Europe has seen since World War II.
Attacks were launched by Russia on major cities across Ukraine including Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Mariupol. These cities have suffered the brunt of the invasion through air raids and attacks by troops on the ground. Now, Russia has focused its efforts on seizing full control of eastern Ukraine. Reports have come in of increased fighting on the ground and increased troop presence in the east. Significant advances by Russia have been made in the Luhansk and Donbas regions of Ukraine.
Refugee Crisis
In the months since Russia invaded Ukraine, over 14 million Ukrainian citizens have been forced to flee their homes. Almost 7 million refugees have fled into neighboring countries and over 8 million have been internally displaced within the country. Hundreds of thousands of civilians remain trapped in conflict zones, where damage to critical infrastructure has left many without clean water and electricity.
The ongoing conflict has caused fuel supply chain disruptions across the country. Access to fuel is a matter of increasing concern for humanitarian organizations working on the ground.
According to FRF Founder and CEO Ted Honcharik, petrol is unavailable at many retail stations, and diesel – where available – is being heavily rationed. Many are waiting for hours in long lines at gas stations around the country just for a small amount of fuel. NGOs working on the ground are running low on the fuel they need to continue their life-saving work.
According to the UN, fuel needs are greatest in the country’s eastern areas – where fuel shortages are impacting the operational capacity of humanitarian organizations, particularly those that rely on heavy and light vehicle fleets to transport aid and personnel.
FRF has established a base of operations in Kyiv, where we have been coordinating fuel supply and equipment for UN agencies, international aid organizations, and local organizations that are providing direct services to civilians impacted by the conflict all over the country. Together with our partners at Help.NGO, FRF has established an ad hoc network to ensure emergency fuel provision for the humanitarian sector.
The vast majority of the fuel FRF has supplied to NGOs operating in Ukraine is being used to power vehicle fleets. NGOs use these fleets of vehicles to transport personnel and emergency aid which includes food tents, water, medicine, and other lifesaving supplies. In addition, the fuel we have supplied has been used to power generators in areas where humanitarian organizations are working. We have also facilitated the prepositioning of fuel for emergency evacuations.
To date, FRF has provided over 40,000 liters of fuel to over 20 organizations operating on the ground in various locations across Ukraine including Kharkiv, Kyiv, Dnipro, and Borodyanka. These organizations include International Medical Corps, Médecins Sans Frontiéres, Red Cross Ukraine, UNICEF, World Central Kitchen, and more.
Ted is currently on the ground in Ukraine, where he will be heading up a multi-day delivery run to distribute an additional 20,000 liters of fuel to more than 15 local NGOs operating in Dnipro, Odessa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson.
FRF has also had the opportunity to support locally led relief organizations operating in Kyiv Oblast, and we have distributed an additional 445 liters of fuel to these partners. Recently, our volunteers provided fuel for Charity Foundation, operating the Social Group Kitchen out of Borodyanka which saw widespread destruction during Russian occupation of the area. They are cooking and serving food for 800-900 survivors daily and told our team they will be able to use the fuel we provided to drive back and forth from Kyiv to Borodyanka as well as expand their operations to Kharkiv, Chernigov, and Nikolaev.
FRF is providing critical support to locally led relief organizations operating in Kyiv Oblast. Recently, our volunteers provided fuel for the Social Group Kitchen in Borodyanka, which saw widespread destruction during Russian occupation of the area. They are cooking and serving food for 800-900 survivors daily and told our team they will be able to use the fuel we provided to drive back and forth from Kyiv to Borodyanka as well as expand their operations to Kharkiv, Chernigov, and Nikolaev.
40,000+ Liters of Fuel Delivered
20+ NGOs Supported
40,000+ Liters of Fuel Delivered
20+ NGOs Supported
Fuel Relief Fund is a registered 501(c)3 organization
EIN: 26-4591517
5230 Wilson Street
Riverside, CA 92509
Mailing address:
Fuel Relief Fund
PO Box 131192
Houston, TX 77219