DAY 1: We are en route to Donbas, which are two eastern provinces of Ukraine (Donetsk and Luhansk) that are known collectively as the "Donbas," and it refers to the rich geologic coal basin which turned the region into Ukraine's industrial heartland.

Once again, we are passing through villages in the Kharkiv region that Russian troops have completely destroyed while they occupied this region.

Despite being a de-occupied territory, life has yet to return to these areas. My wife finds it difficult to hold back tears when she sees a sign on a destroyed building as we drive by. It's not just a sign but a heartfelt plea from the local residents (In English: "Please! Help rebuild the village!"). Only God knows who will undertake this task and when it will happen...

In the dilapidated town of Izyum, we meet Nikolay. His house has been burned down, forcing him to move in with his mother. With no job opportunities in the city, he relies on humanitarian aid to survive. He asks us for 20 Hryvnia, likely for a drink. Rather than giving him money, we share with him the food we have.

We decide to proceed towards Svyatogorsk, a town regarded as the pearl of the Donbas. Its surroundings boast stunning features such as rivers, forests, and chalk mountains. One of these mountains is home to an ancient Orthodox monastery. However, reaching Svyatogorsk proves challenging as the bridge spanning the river has been destroyed by an explosion. Instead, we explore the nearby village of Bogorodichnoye. Tragically, there are scarce surviving houses in this village, as everything has been ravaged by shells, rockets, and mines. The sight of the ruined church is particularly disheartening.

The village feels eerily empty, almost devoid of people—a true ghost town. However, we do come across a few people. One of them is Lyubov, a 67-year-old widow. Only the walls of her house remain standing, and she now lives in a cellar. Despite the desolation, she perseveres in her efforts to restore some semblance of order. Lyubov tirelessly rakes through the rubble and takes out the trash. She adamantly declares that she will not leave her native village, especially since it holds sacred places where people feel a close connection to God. We offer her shoes, milk, and additional food items to help ease her situation.

On the destroyed bridge, we meet Yaroslav, a 17-year-old young man. He is waiting for the water level to decrease so that he can safely cross to the other side and reach Svyatogorsk. There, he mentions the presence of civilization, where electricity and Internet connection are already available.

At the end of our trip, we finally made a stop in Svyatogorsk and witnessed the state of what the young boy called "civilization." Unfortunately, it was also in complete ruin, just like everywhere else that had experienced the Russian forces and their so-called "liberation."

By evening, we arrive in Druzhkovka, located approximately 30 kilometers away from the front line. The sounds of war are clearly audible here. Rockets increasingly fly overhead, reaching even the city itself. We find accommodation at the Design Christ Church. As always, life here is bustling. Refugees reside within its walls, chaplains find shelter for the night, and local residents come for water and humanitarian aid. The church will serve as our base during these days.