How You Can Help Ukrainian Refugees in Milan

Ukrainian refugees from Kharkiv in our home for lunch. Daria Argakov and her daughter Nina, and Nadia Chygrynova and her daughter Vera.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

As you are aware, due to the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army, Europe is experiencing a refugee crisis. More than a million women and children have fled their homes in Ukraine since the beginning of the war. Here in Milan, our church has been given the opportunity to help some brothers and sisters in Christ who are in great need. If you are looking for a tangible way to help Ukrainian refugees, please read on. Here are their stories:

Background:
First, there is Alena Fedchishina, who has been living with us in our home since Wednesday, March 2. She is a dear sister in Christ whom we have known for some years. While studying for her master’s degree in Milan, she attended our church, Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia. For the past couple of years, she has worked for the Italian embassy in Kiev, where she is also a member of a presbyterian church. Alena speaks fluent Italian, as well as Ukrainian and Russian. When missiles started hitting her neighborhood, she and other colleagues from the embassy sought shelter in the ambassador’s home.

Alena was able to escape by car with two colleagues, an Italian couple, who had heard of an armored collumn that would provide an escort to the Ukrainian border. She fled with nothing but a small backpack. What they thought would be a two-day journey turned into five days through Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovenia and finally Italy. There were hundreds of thousands of refugees on the roads, traffic jams, chaotic lines at gas stations, difficult border crossings, and some dangerous detours through mountains. Because martial law is declared in Ukraine, their bank cards were blocked. What little cash they had they used for gas.

After crossing the Italian border, the couple left Alena in Trieste (northeast Italy). We then bought her a train ticket to come to Milan. When we picked her up at the trainstation, she was fragile. She had not eaten for days. By God’s grace, she has been recovering quickly. We are happy to help her in any way we can. She is staying with us in our basement until the war is over or she finds the means to live on her own. She is currently looking for work. In fact, today she has an interview with a non-profit organization that helps refugees.

Our little church here in Milan is doing everything possible to welcome her and help her feel at home. They took a collection and bought her some clothes and necessary items. They are committed to helping her. We pray that she will feel at home with us and that our family and church can minister to her.

Next, there is the Argakov family: Voldomyr and his wife Daria, their three children Artiom (6), Mykhailo (3), and Nina (1). Their friend Nadia Chygrynova (26) and her daughter Vera (1) are also with them. Nadia’s husband is still in Ukraine. All of them are members of a presbyterian church in Kharkiv, a city, as you may have heard on the news, that has been hit very hard by the Russian army and is now occupied. They packed whatever they could into their car and fled. Their apartment building was later hit by a Russian missile at 5am in the morning.

Ukrainian men between 18 and 60 are not permitted to leave Ukraine unless they have three or more dependent children. All other men are obligated to stay in the country and fight. Voldomyr was able to leave given that they have three children. Nadia’s husband, their pastor, and most of the men from their church are still in Ukraine, conscripted into the militia that is helping to defend their country.

Their journey was similar to Alena’s: traffic jams, chaotic lines at gas stations, perilous roads, bureaucratic troubles at the borders, car trouble, little food, etc. Finally, they made it to Italy. They decided to come here because, first, the refugee camps in Poland and Hungary are overwhelmed, and, second, they know Alena from when she was a member of their church while she was doing her undergrad in Kharkiv. Alena was able to find a temporary place for them to stay: a house about two hours from Milan that once functioned as a convalescent home.

Yesterday, on Sunday March 13, they came to our church to attend worship. They sat in the back row where Alena was able to translate the sermon from Italian into Ukrainian. They were thrilled to be in church and among Christians. Once again, our congregation took a collection. They brought food, clothing, cribs, car seats, and other necessary items for the family. After church, they came to our house for lunch, where we enjoyed good fellowship. After lunch, one of the elders of our church (Vittorio) and I went with them and Alena to see an available apartment that is near our church and meet the owner. We were able to negotiate a very low price. The apartment is clean and in a safe neighborhood. God willing, they will move in tomorrow.

Voldomyr is in construction by trade and wants to look for work immediately. Daria and Nadia are also willing to work outside or from the home but have the responsibility of caring for four little ones.

Next, there is the Boiko family: Yuriy and his wife Olga, and their four children: Nazar (15), Tania (14), Mark (8), and Nadia (5), all of whom are members of the same presbyterian church in Kharkiv. They are currently at a refugee camp in Poland, but want to come to Milan to be near the Argakov family and to be part of our church. They are without a car, however, therefore we are seeking a solution for transportation.

The Need:
These folks need a lot of assistance. They have lost everything, their homes, their belongings, everything. As I mentioned, the church here in Milan is collecting food, clothing, household items, etc. The biggest and most urgent need is finding housing for them. They need help with rent until the men are able to find work and can provide for their families. However, none of them speak Italian, so the transition will be challenging. We want to help them get on their feet and settle into a new life. We also want to continue to make Ukrainian translation available to them through Alena. 

There is also a possibility that more refugees from Ukraine will come to Milan, including others from the presbyterian and evangelical churches in Kiev and Kharkiv. We just don't know yet. Everyday is a different development. 

How You Can Help:
There are two ways you can give:

(1)  You can make a donation directly to Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia, which is our church in Milan. The deacons will use these funds to pay for the refugee families’ rent, food, and urgent living expenses. The council is keeping a diligent record of incoming funds and expenditures with full accountability by our council. If you are interested in giving in this way, please contact me and I can provide you with the church’s account information. You may email me at mgbrown1543@gmail.com.

(2)  You can make a donation to the GoFundMe page we created for this need. You can find that here. All of the funds collected will be transferred to our church account to be managed and dispensed by the deacons to meet the needs of the Ukrainian refugees.

We ask you to prayerfully consider making a donation. We also ask you to remember Alena, the Argakov and Boiko families in your prayers, as well as peace for Ukraine and Europe.

May the Lord bless you and strengthen you as you seek to glorify the name of Christ by overcoming evil with good.

Pastor Mike Brown
Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia
Milan, Italy