Support for farmers in Ukraine’s conflict-affected regions

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Vitalii and Alona are raising four children, including foster children, in a village in the Zaporizhya region, 27 kilometres from the front line. When their apartment in Zaporizhya became too small for the family and the ongoing conflict made staying in the city dangerous, they decided to move to the village.

Following the move, Vitalii began farming and selling his produce at the market. Thanks to a grant from Dorcas this year, he was able to install a greenhouse and equip it with heating and irrigation systems, as well as conduct soil and water analysis. ‘I don’t have much experience yet, so also receiving a consultation from a laboratory was helpful. We didn’t know we had fungus in the soil, but now we are working to solve the problem,’ he shares. They plan to grow cucumbers, salad vegetables, and strawberries in the new greenhouse. This will improve the well-being of this large family by establishing a continuous cycle of growing produce for sale.

In 2025, Dorcas expanded its support for farmers in eastern Ukraine, providing grants totalling €16,000 to five households in the Zaporizhya region. Despite the constant threat to their lives and livelihoods, farmers remain because, to them, land is not only a source of income, but also a source of dignity, hope and connection between generations. However, mined fields, land damaged by attacks and destroyed equipment remain a challenge for Ukrainian agriculture.

The Zaporizhya region has particularly suffered ecosystem disruption due to the destruction of the Kakhovka Reservoir, which has led to a locust invasion this season and threatened the productivity of small orchards. Supporting entrepreneurs in frontline regions gives them the confidence to develop their businesses.

12 August 2025