Even for those in homes still standing, the winter is brutal. Russian strikes have gutted power stations, leaving whole districts without light for hours each day. 

Hope for Ukraine brings food kits and solar power units so families can cook without producing smoke that might draw a drone. Many of these volunteers are Ukrainian believers who've been helping displaced families since the first Russian invasion in 2014.  

Hope for Ukraine's Yuriy Boyechko explains, "So basically there's a food kit that sustains families for up to ten days. And then you have the solar power generator and a cooktop that comes with that. So that's basically what we've been, really, pushing right now to the front line."

The last time this CBN News reporter was here was three years ago, right after this area was liberated from the Russians by Ukraine. And the mood at that time was jubilant. There were hundreds, if not thousands of people arrayed in the public square, all celebrating the freedom that they got after being under Russian occupation for a long time. 

Now it's a much more somber scene. Flags and pictures are displayed representing those who have died here, fighting for Ukraine. Even the city hall in this location was struck and demolished by a missile. Our quick visit to this spot risked a possible drone attack, so we didn't linger.

Ukrainian villager Halyna Petrova is grateful for the aid from Hope for Ukraine. "And now many drones are flying and the power goes out. We sit without electricity for a very, very long time. Practically, there is no power at all. They cut it every four hours, then five, and there's no light. Well, it's thanks to you that we're getting at least some assistance brought in," Petrova said.

For the people still living inside Kherson's kill zone, aid-runs like this are the thin line between survival and collapse. 

Although Russia's military continues its so-called "human safari," the teams that return each week say they won't abandon those who cannot leave.