The article is devoted to the reception of Ukrainian war refugees by local communities and covers the period March–May 2022. Their numerous arrival in a short period of time created a crisis situation in these communities requiring rapid intervention. The aim of the article was to describe these conditions: the influx of refugees, the organization of the crisis team, the actions taken by local actors and the factors that determined the effectiveness and efficiency of assistance. The analysis focuses on the institutional side of aid activities and highlights the role of local government and intangible social resources. The article is based on a case study of an urban-rural commune. The article is based on the results of research carried out as part of the intervention grants program of the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) under contract no. BPN/GIN/2022/1/00021/U/00001. The research report is titled: "The potential for refugee absorption by rural and small-town local communities", DOI:10.53098/978-83-89900-73-9.