Christmas in Chasiv Yar and Bakhmut, December 2022

Three children holding their Christmas gift boxes, giving a thumbs up

Our trips to Bakhmut · Part 1 of 2

In December 2022, just before Christmas, Alexandru and a team from Romania, Canada and Ukraine went into Chasiv Yar and Bakhmut for the first time. We brought food for families and Christmas presents for children, many of whom were living in the basements of their apartment blocks. The fighting was only a few kilometres away.

At a glance

~12 km

between Chasiv Yar and Bakhmut

~12,000

people in Chasiv Yar before the war

3

countries in our team: Romania, Canada, Ukraine

Loading up in the snow

The Make a Difference van and trailer loading up in the snow

We filled the van and trailer with food boxes and colourful shoebox gifts. Many of the food boxes were prepared by Baptist churches in Romania, together with other friends.

Loading food boxes and Christmas gifts into the trailer
The van packed with food boxes and Christmas gifts in the snow

Food for families

In both towns, people gathered around the van to collect the food boxes.

Women collecting food boxes from the Make a Difference van
People collecting food boxes and gifts beside the van
A team member in a protective vest handing a food box to children from a van
A family with firewood, a food box and a Christmas gift box

Many of the deliveries happened after dark, by torchlight, in front of apartment blocks with boarded-up windows.

Residents holding food boxes outside their apartment block at night
Residents collecting food boxes at night
Handing out aid at night beside two vans
Food boxes beside the Make a Difference van at night

Christmas in the basements

Two children with their Christmas gifts in the basement where they live

Some of the children we met were living in basements, made into homes with mattresses, rugs and a few toys. Seeing their faces light up as they opened their gifts was the best part of the trip. We wanted to bring them a little joy, and the good news of Christ’s birth.

Children holding Christmas gift boxes outside their building
Children outside their building at night
Two children carrying their gifts home at night

Chasiv Yar and Bakhmut, then and now

Chasiv Yar is a small town about 12 km from Bakhmut, with a pre-war population of around 12,000. It sits on high ground, which made it a key position on the way to Kostiantynivka and Kramatorsk (Kyiv Post). After Bakhmut fell, the fighting moved to Chasiv Yar. Russian paratroopers reached its eastern edge in April 2024, and on 31 July 2025, after more than 16 months of fighting, Russia claimed to have captured the town. Ukraine disputed the claim at the time (Reuters, via Daily Maverick).

When we visited in December 2022, Bakhmut was already under heavy attack. We went back a few weeks later, in January 2023. In May 2023, Russia claimed full control of the city after what AP called the longest and most grinding battle of the war, which left few buildings standing (PBS NewsHour / AP).

Members of the team with a Ukrainian soldier

Today both towns lie in ruins and under Russian control. We are grateful we could be there that Christmas, and thankful to the whole team from Romania, Canada and Ukraine, and to everyone who packed a box.

Our trips to Bakhmut

December 2022

Christmas in Chasiv Yar and Bakhmut

Food for families and gifts for children living in basements.

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January 2023

Aid for Bakhmut

Aid for the people still in the city, months before it fell.

Read the story →