Farmers Return to Their Fields in Ukraine
Three long-time farmers are busy planting wheat and sunflowers this spring—and it is a dream come true! Ivan*, Serhiy*, and Oleksiy* weren’t sure they would ever work their fields again after Russia invaded, destroying their grain storehouses and leaving behind a hidden maze of landmines. But Samaritan’s Purse repaired their storage facilities so now they can farm again and have somewhere to keep their crops. These men—all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ—see the repaired facilities as blessings from God Himself.
A Gift Straight from God
For the last 30 years, Ivan has farmed on an international scale.
“By the time I turned 50, I was involved in exporting food to America. We were sending wheat, grain, and flour to Alaska,” he said.
Working side-by-side with his wife, Ivan’s business flourished until Russian artillery struck one of their grain storehouses. The foreign forces used it as a shelter and a base of operations for further attacks.
Ivan and his wife are grateful for Samaritan’s Purse gift of a New Testament in Ukrainian.
When the occupiers finally retreated, all of Ivan’s machinery bore the marks of their hostile presence: his combine was completely destroyed by fire while his tractor and sprayer were significantly damaged.
Ivan’s restored grain storehouse stands as a symbol of hope to both him and his community.
Eventually, Ivan was able to repair his machinery. And, through our grain storehouse restoration project, Ivan and his community now have a functioning storage facility for crops again.
“I believe that this is the greatest gift God has given me in my lifetime, that we are able to work together again,” Ivan said. “I am grateful for what you have done. It is a gift from God.”
The Ukrainian farming couple stand in front of their newly restored grain storehouse.
A Life’s Work Rebuilt
“There is darkness here—at the beginning of the war everything was levelled,” Serhiy said sadly, remembering the new grain storehouse he had built right before Russia invaded. “This demolished storehouse represented half of my life’s work. You can’t even imagine how important this was to me.”
Russian soldiers not only left Serhiy’s village in ruins, but they also scattered landmines across the farmland and residential areas.
At the beginning of this year, around a dozen families resettled in Serhiy’s village. This small but stalwart force is trying to rebuild the agricultural economy that once thrived there. Samaritan’s Purse came to their aid by repairing Serhiy’s grain storehouse, so they can continue to provide much needed food to others who have suffered as they have. This help has given Serhiy hope and newfound motivation for life.
Serhiy’s newly repaired grain storehouse opens doors of opportunity for his community.
So far, Serhiy’s farm equipment has survived the war.
“I am grateful to God that we are still holding on, standing strong, and recovering after the destruction,” Serhiy said.
Holding his New Testament, Serhiy credits God for the provision of the storehouse he is standing in.
A Symbol of Hope and Solidarity
For more than two decades, Oleksiy’s family has worked the land, facing the relentless challenges of nature—harsh winter frosts and scorching summers that threatened their harvests.
But nothing could have prepared them for the hardship they endured in spring 2022. Russia targeted their village, leaving 95 percent of the structures in ruins.
As missiles fell all around them, Oleksiy and 16 other villagers huddled in an underground shelter he had built back when the war with Russia originally started in 2014. Neighbours had scoffed at his construction project then, suggesting a garage would be much more useful, but by listening to his instincts, Oleksiy was part of saving over a dozen lives a decade later. Huddled there under layers of clothing to fend off the cold, these villagers listened as war raged overhead.
Oleksiy’s mother, Oksana*, also chose not to leave the village, but instead, camped out in the basement of her home on the farm. When her son’s grain storehouse nearby was hit, the sunflower seeds inside ignited, sending streams of burning oil into her refuge in the basement.
By a miracle of God, she survived.
Her worries, however, were far from over—artillery hit even closer to home.
“I heard a strange rumble and smelled something burning. I knew something was terribly wrong. Then I realized—my house was gone,” she said.
“I thank God that I again survived.”
Even amid the ashes of what was once the family’s homestead, Oleksiy and his wife refused to give up hope and started rebuilding.
Displaying their spirit of resilience, Oleksiy and his wife pose in front of their tractor with one of their three children.
We praise God that Samaritan’s Purse was able to refurbish Oleksiy’s storage facility, restoring its capacity to hold 1,000 tons of grain.
“Your help is nothing short of a miracle,” Oleksiy said. “When war engulfs your country, such support feels like divine intervention. That’s why we look to the future with even greater hope. God is here—His presence is undeniable.”
Dasha Midhal, Samaritan’s Purse grain storehouse restoration programme manager, illustrated just how important this help is to the nation as a whole.
“It’s heart-wrenching to see villages and homes reduced to rubble, like the one belonging to Oleksiy’s family,” she said. “Yet, amid the widespread destruction near the frontline, a repaired grain storehouse stands as a symbol of resilience and hope for a better future. For this family it’s more than just the restoration of a building—it’s a powerful reminder that they are not alone in their adversity.”
Oleksiy’s repaired storehouse can hold 1,000 tons of grain.
Now Ivan, Serhiy, Oleksiy, and other Ukrainian farmers work their fields with a spirit of determination.
“We haven’t returned to pre-war planting levels yet,” Oleksiy said. “The land is dangerous, littered with mines. But we clear our fields ourselves because we must move forward. We have no other choice.”
Please pray for these farmers to persevere and enjoy God’s protection despite the difficulties around them. Ask also that the Lord would grant them bumper crops that will feed their desperate nation.
*Name changed for security.
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