Since the war with Russia erupted in 2022, Lviv, the biggest city in western Ukraine, has become a place of refuge for many Ukrainians who have fled and continue to flee conflict in the eastern areas, in particular in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts (known as the Donbas). Many women and children have been sheltering in Lviv, and despite their coming from areas that are traditionally Russian-speaking, they are being welcomed and protected by their fellow Ukrainians in the west. And many have had to quickly brush up on their Ukrainian to adjust to their new surroundings.

ICMC has been supporting the Archdiocese of Ivano-Frankivsk, with Lviv as its main center, to be able to accommodate the influx of newcomers seeking safety. Some parish buildings and rooms have been refurbished to create more housing, while other spaces have been adapted to add to day care facilities, such as at the Orphans Care Center, part of the St. Nicholas House of Mercy in Lviv. ICMC's support has been important also to ensure psychosocial services, so that children who have been traumatized by the war can overcome those traumas and begin to feel safe again. Finally, the House of Mercy provides essentials such as food, clothing, soaps and other basic needs, to assist those who come to them seeking help.