In early August, the Estonian Refugee Council (ERC) team deployed to Zaporizhzhia oblast to deliver urgently needed assistance to residents of Bilenke, a village coping with the aftermath of a recent attack.

On the night of July 29, an airstrike hit the community, damaging around 100 private homes, two educational institutions, a hospital, and the historic Myklashevsky Manor – a 19th-century architectural landmark. Though Bilenke lies across the Kakhovka Reservoir from the frontlines, it remains within range of attacks by FPV drones, guided aerial bombs, and artillery fire.

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Throughout the registration process, the distant but persistent echoes of explosions were a chilling reminder that, for Bilenke’s residents, the threat is constant. Locals report that the sound of shelling is part of daily life – both by day and through the night.

“I’m afraid to go to sleep,” shared one woman as she waited to register for assistance. “Every night there’s some kind of shelling. It’s terrifying. A bomb landed in our yard... We’ve patched the roof with tarpaulin and boarded up the windows. We’re just trying to hold on.”

With limited employment opportunities, many families survive by cultivating gardens and raising livestock. Despite the danger, the resilience of the community is unwavering.

“We have 15 goats, a cat, and a dog,” said another resident, wearing a T-shirt that read ‘Pain is weakness leaving the body’. “We’re not going anywhere. If everyone leaves, who will stay and rebuild the country?”

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Thanks to support from the European Union and in partnership with Acted, the Estonian Refugee Council is providing cash-based support to help affected families meet their basic needs – including food, medicine, and temporary shelter.

In places like Bilenke, every act of support is a step toward dignity and survival. We remain committed to standing with those who face crisis, bringing help where it’s needed most.

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