Zeitraum: [May 2025 – July 2025]
In the Ukrainian city of Marhanez – separated from Russian-occupied territory only by the Dnipro River – stands a fire station whose daily work is marked by constant threat. Since the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, the fire brigade has had no direct access to water. For two years, firefighters had to transport water canisters through dangerous, shelled parts of the city in order to extinguish fires and save lives. This was not only exhausting, but also life-threatening.
Thanks to funding from Engagement Global, provided by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, a decisive step forward has now been taken. Together with the city of Marhanez and the local NGO “Гірська Зупинка”, the ReBuild gGmbH team implemented a well project that goes far beyond simply building a water supply. It is a project that brings hope, improves working conditions, and provides safety in a region under fire.
In June 2025, our team travelled to Marhanez to see the results of this project on site. At the fire station, we were warmly welcomed by the station chief, Oleksii Kharchenko. The mayor of the city, Hennadij Borovyk, also took the time to join us and, together with the fire brigade, gave us a tour of the grounds. There, we saw the heart of the project with our own eyes: the new borehole, drilled under challenging conditions as a deep well.
During the construction phase, the risk of artillery and drone attacks was ever-present. In one attack, building materials were damaged. Fortunately, no one was injured and the work was able to continue. Due to local conditions, drilling had to go deeper than originally planned – an additional challenge for everyone involved.
In the second construction phase, water pipes were laid from the borehole to the large vehicle hall of the fire station. Here, two large tanks now collect the water, which is automatically refilled by the system. The connected fire hose now delivers water directly from the premises – a major improvement for the fire brigade’s operational capacity.
A particularly moving moment was when water flowed through the hose for the first time. For two years, the firefighters had been without their own water supply. Knowing they no longer have to rely on dangerous water transports was a deeply emotional experience for everyone present. The station chief emphasised how much this new water supply has changed his team’s daily life.
In addition to the main funding from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the project was also supported by the city of Brühl – Marhanez’s twin city – as well as the association “Wir in Europa e. V.”. Locally, it was coordinated by the NGO “Гірська Зупинка”, with whom we have worked in close trust for many years.
This well project is a tangible contribution to strengthening infrastructure and safety in a region that lives with the consequences of war every day. It enables the fire brigade to respond more quickly and protects the firefighters from dangerous journeys through the city. Looking ahead, a water filtration system is also planned to further improve the water quality. For now, the new supply is primarily used for firefighting.
We are grateful to have been able to implement this project together with our partners – and we will keep going. Because water is not just an element – it is life, safety, and the future.
If you would like to support our work, we would greatly appreciate your help. Every donation makes a difference in building bridges of solidarity together.
Press release:
- Nikopol News: https://nikopol.nikopolnews.net/rajon/mariana-riatuvalnykam-marhantsa/
- Stadt Brühl: https://www.bruehl.de/news/7015/brunnen-fuer-bruehls-ukrainische-solidaritaetspartnerstadt-marhanez
