A Russian Missile Destroyed Chef José Andres’ Charity Food Hub in Ukraine — Here’s What We Know

Amidst the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, countless civilians have lost their homes — and any connection to life as they knew it — as they flee to safety. Charity-minded chef José Andres sought to help refugees in the way he knew best: with a food hub on the border of Ukraine and Poland. Andres’ charity kitchen, named World Central Kitchen, began in February and has been feeding Ukrainians ever since. But on April 16, it was destroyed by a Russian missile.

The news was first reported on Twitter by WC Kitchen’s CEO, Nate Mook. In a video, Mook speaks to the camera in front of rubble that was once a thriving neighborhood. “A tremendous amount of carnage. People live here, people work here, people cook here,” he narrates, adding, “Absolutely horrific brutality.”

The attack decimated the kitchen and injured four WC Kitchen staff members, who were transported to the hospital to be treated. (Their conditions were reported to be non life-threatening.) 

Although the kitchen is now unusable, Mook asserted in a follow-up tweet that, “The world doesn’t stop!” WC Kitchen’s uninjured staff quickly moved the remaining equipment and food items to a new location, where they immediately resumed cooking. 

“Many ways to fight, we do it with food,” Andres noted in his retweet of Mook’s update. Whether it’s through food, medical services, or simply a financial donation, there are many ways the citizens of the world can help the people of Ukraine — here’s a list of places to start.