In the Eye of the Storm: My Journey with JICA in War‑Torn Ukraine

In war’s darkest hours, hope still arrives. JICA helps Ukraine restore, rebuild, and believe in tomorrow. More than aid—it’s partnership, commitment, and unwavering resolve.

It’s hard to describe what war feels like until you’ve seen it up close

As a member of JICA’s Ukraine Office, I’ve stood in cities where entire neighborhoods were flattened overnight. I’ve visited hospitals running without electricity. I’ve spoken to mayors who had to dig survivors out of the rubble with bare hands before our machinery arrived.

And yet—what stays with me most is not the destruction, but the determination. Ukrainians do not give up. And JICA stands right by us.

From restoring power to clearing rubble with heavy equipment, JICA’s support is helping communities recover, survive, and rebuild. What began as emergency aid has grown into a long-term lifeline—and I’m proud to be a small part of it.

When Russian missiles knock out the power grid, JICA delivers transformers and repair equipment to restore the flow of electricity.

When bombed buildings collapse, JICA sends bulldozers, backhoe loaders, and protective gear so emergency workers can clear the rubble safely.

When families are forced to flee and schools are shut down, JICA supports modular housing, enables distance learning, and plans for a better future—one step at a time.

Over the past years, Japan, through JICA, has delivered numerous pieces of heavy machinery and equipment to heavily affected regions including―Kharkiv, Dnipro, Kherson, and Mykolaiv. Mine detectors and demining machines are among them. These aren’t just machines—they’re tools that restore dignity and create the conditions for normal life.

Electricity is not just convenience in wartime—it’s survival. Hospitals need it for surgeries. Children need it to study. Cities need it for water, heat, and basic security.

JICA’s support to Ukraine’s energy sector continues to evolve, becoming both deeper and more strategic. JICA is addressing Ukraine’s most urgent energy needs. This includes supplying transformers to replace those destroyed in missile attacks, providing specialized vehicles and cranes to assist repair crews in restoring damaged infrastructure, and installing gas turbines and compressors that are essential for maintaining heating systems. In addition to delivering equipment, JICA also offers technical expertise and long-term consultations to help Ukraine build a more resilient and sustainable energy network for the future.

The past couple of winters, Ukraine has withstood massive attacks on energy systems thanks to support like this, combined with strong local resilience. But challenges remain severe, especially in eastern regions where substations are constantly under attack.

To respond to changing needs quickly, JICA and the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine agreed to reallocate budgets in real time—shifting funds from non-critical items to the most urgent needs, like auto-transformers and heavy equipment.

We do this in constant dialogue with Ukrainian energy companies ensuring that every yen goes where it’s needed most.

JICA is expanding its assistance to cover ever-changing needs, such as inclusive reconstruction of schools and hospitals to create barrier-free environment, vocational training for women, debris recycling systems, energy efficiency through advanced heating systems, and training local authorities to lead recovery efforts.

Every part of this plan is about empowerment. Not just helping my nation survive today, but training us to lead our own recovery tomorrow.

This is what makes JICA’s work so different—and why it speaks to the values of Japan so deeply. Quietly, steadily, respectfully—we help rebuild not just buildings, but confidence

I’m writing this not just as a project officer, but as a witness. I’ve seen the worst days of this war—and I’ve seen how Japanese solidarity can bring light into the darkest corners.

To the young people of Japan: I know international cooperation can feel abstract. But here in Ukraine, it is very real. It’s the excavator clearing a kindergarten courtyard. It’s the transformer bringing power to a home of frightened elderly couple living under missile fire every day. It’s a generator allowing a surgeon to complete an operation on a child during blackout.

Working for JICA isn’t just a job—it’s being part of something much bigger. It’s service with soul.

War reveals what really matters. And it shows us who we are.

Through JICA, Japan has shown Ukraine not just generosity, but friendship. As someone living through this history, I can say: the people here will never forget.

And if you’re wondering whether your work can make a difference—see for yourself. Ukraine is rebuilding. And Japan is standing right beside us.