LifeLine Ukraine

LifeLine Ukraine is a Dutch-Ukrainian aid organisation founded in 2022 by Dutch entrepreneur Jeroen Ketting, who had lived and worked in Russia since 1994 through his company Lighthouse Group. After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ketting closed his Russian business and left the country, redirecting his networks in Ukraine and the Netherlands toward practical humanitarian support. The organisation is legally a Dutch foundation (stichting) registered with ANBI status, with a board and advisory council in the Netherlands and a small project office in Kyiv. In the Netherlands it is run entirely by volunteers, while project delivery on the ground is coordinated through trusted local partners and regular field visits by Dutch board members. LifeLine Ukraine focuses on frontline and border communities that larger aid organisations often do not reach — areas near the front line or close to the borders with Russia and Belarus. Its work is organised around four areas: Care (medical, dental, mental, social and elderly home care), Mobility (evacuation vehicles, mobile care and local transport), Critical Infrastructure (water, energy, sanitation, generators and solar power), and Humanitarian Supplies (medical supplies, food, hygiene products and basic equipment). The organisation combines demand-driven project selection with fast execution, strong local presence and full transparency, documenting the entire delivery process. Since 2022 the foundation has evolved from emergency aid to structured resilience projects. Early work included generators, solid fuel stoves, support to women-led businesses through WinTrade.org.ua, and retraining of veterans. In 2023 it began its first renovation projects in clinics and hospitals. By 2024 it had expanded into shelter construction, hospital repairs, drinking water systems, mobile elderly care and evacuation vehicles. In 2025 it sharpened its focus on the intersection of care, mobility and critical infrastructure, with a strong emphasis on renewable energy to increase grid independence. Campaigns such as Winterization 2025–2026 supported nearly 400,000 people with €272,000 in donations, while a €500,000 Summerization Campaign addressed water supply. The organisation also facilitates other Dutch aid organisations working in Ukraine and supports small businesses and veteran reintegration. In August 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded chairman Jeroen Ketting the Order of Merit, third class.

LifeLine Ukraine was founded in 2022 by Dutch entrepreneur Jeroen Ketting, who had been based in Russia since 1994 running Lighthouse Group, a company that supported Dutch businesses operating in Russia and Ukraine. Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ketting felt compelled to close his Russian business and leave the country. He decided to use his networks in Ukraine and the Netherlands to provide practical aid in Ukraine. The organisation began operating in frontline communities from day one of the invasion, delivering humanitarian aid while also initiating early resilience projects such as generators, solid fuel stoves, support to women-led businesses through WinTrade.org.ua, and retraining of veterans. In 2023, LifeLine Ukraine expanded its project work in frontline and border regions and started its first renovation projects in clinics and hospitals, building on growing local partnerships and field presence. In 2024, it scaled into structured projects in care, mobility and critical infrastructure, including shelter construction, hospital repairs, drinking water systems, mobile elderly care and evacuation vehicles. By 2025, the organisation established a clear focus on the intersection of care, mobility and critical infrastructure, adding a strong emphasis on renewable energy solutions to increase grid independence and ensure essential services continue under extreme conditions. Structurally, LifeLine Ukraine is a Dutch foundation (stichting) with ANBI status. It has an office in Ukraine but its board and advisory council are based in the Netherlands, where the organisation is run entirely by volunteers. It collects goods and money in the Netherlands — primarily goods — and fills trucks that drive to Ukraine. Local aid workers ensure that assistance reaches the right recipients, and the entire process is documented. Close ties with local organisations and aid workers help tailor assistance to what truly makes a difference on the ground. Beyond purely humanitarian aid (food, drinking water, etc.), LifeLine Ukraine also supports small (family) businesses and helps veterans reintegrate into the labour market. It also aims to act as a facilitator for other Dutch aid organisations wanting to help in Ukraine. In some cases, aid is not donated but rented — for example, renting generators proved more effective in practice than donating them. On 21 August 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded chairman Jeroen Ketting the Order of Merit, third class. The organisation continues to operate in frontline and border areas, with campaigns such as Winterization 2025–2026 (supporting nearly 400,000 people with €272,000 in donations) and a €500,000 Summerization Campaign for clean water supply.

• 2026

  Winterization 2025–2026 supported nearly 400,000 people with €272,000 in donations; launched €500,000 Summerization Campaign for clean water; chairman Jeroen Ketting awarded Order of Merit, third class, by President Zelensky on 21 August 2026.

• 2025

  Established a clear focus on care, mobility, infrastructure and energy; added strong emphasis on renewable energy solutions for grid independence.

• 2024

  Scaled into structured projects in care, mobility and critical infrastructure, including shelter construction, hospital repairs, drinking water systems, mobile elderly care and evacuation vehicles.

• 2023

  Expanded project work in frontline and border regions; started first renovation projects in clinics and hospitals.

• 2022

  Founded by Jeroen Ketting; began operating in frontline communities from day one of the full-scale invasion, delivering humanitarian aid and initiating early resilience projects including generators, solid fuel stoves, support to women-led businesses (WinTrade.org.ua), and retraining veterans.

Fast, practical, demand-driven humanitarian and resilience projects in Ukraine's frontline communities, delivered with local partners and full transparency.

• Care projects

  Access to medical, dental, mental, social and elderly home care in frontline communities, including equipping clinics and enabling mobile medical, elderly and mental care services.

• Mobility projects

  Enabling people and services to move safely and reliably, from evacuation vehicles to mobile care and local transport solutions.

• Critical Infrastructure projects

  Restoring and supporting essential systems for water, energy and sanitation, from generators and solar power to local water supply solutions for entire communities.

• Humanitarian Supplies

  Delivering essential goods where shortages are immediate and severe, from medical supplies and food to hygiene products, generators and basic equipment.

1. 1Home - LifeLine Ukrainelifeline-ukraine.org
2. 2Who we are - LifeLine Ukrainelifeline-ukraine.org
3. 3Jeroen Ketting on BNR’s Big Five - LifeLine Ukrainelifeline-ukraine.org
4. 4Bus from Schiermonnikoog gets second life as school bus in Ukraine - LifeLine Ukrainelifeline-ukraine.org
5. 5LifeLine Ukraine - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6LifeLine Ukraine - Wikipedia (NL)nl.wikipedia.org