(CNN) – A Ukrainian-based humanitarian kitchen associated with the famous chef Jose Andres was destroyed by a Russian rocket in the northeastern city of Kharkov, according to its charity.
One of the partners of the World Central Kitchen (WCK) restaurant was hit on Saturday, according to the chief executive of the non-profit kitchen Nate Mook, who confirmed the news on Twitter. He said four employees were injured in the blast.
“An update I hoped I would never have to make. I’m at the @WCKitchen restaurant in Kharkov, where I met their amazing team less than 24 hours ago, “Mook wrote next to a video of himself standing among the burned cars and severely damaged buildings.
“That’s the reality here – cooking is a heroic act of courage.”
Fighters at the scene after a Russian rocket hit a restaurant partner of the World Central Kitchen in the northeastern city of Kharkov, Ukraine, on Saturday, April 16.
Felipe Dana / AP
The northeastern city of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest, has come under regular heavy bombardment since Russia launched its invasion more than six weeks ago.
On Sunday, Muk shared an update from Kharkov showing that the injured staff were “doing well” and the restaurant team was in the process of moving “all food and undamaged equipment” to another location in the city.
“The work doesn’t stop,” he added.
Andres also went on Twitter to deal with the strike, as well as provide an update on the well-being of the restaurant’s staff.
Founded by Andres in 2010, WCK, an organization focused on providing food in disaster and war zones, has been supplying food to Ukrainians since the beginning of the conflict with units in about 30 cities across the country, according to its official website.
On April 15, Andres shared a chart describing the scale of the organization’s operations in Ukraine, including setting up more than 300 restaurants and delivering more than 300,000 meals a day.
“We believe that a plate of food is sometimes the beginning of a better tomorrow,” Andres said in a video released Sunday.
Photo above: Jose Andres. Credit: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Add Comment