A humanitarian convoy in eastern Ukraine led by a Polish Cardinal working directly for Pope Francis, continued on its mission at the weekend despite coming under fire from Russian forces.

Konrad Krajewski, the pope’s top charitable official, is in Ukraine for the fourth time, visiting the frontline of heavy fighting in the eastern part of the country.

He travelled there in a minivan packed with humanitarian assistance from Pope Francis.

On Saturday, while distributing food to the Ukrainian people, Krajewski, along with the local bishops of Zaporizhnia, came under fire by Russian forces.

“While we managed to give the first portion of humanitarian help peacefully, during the second one they started to fire on us,” Krajewski told Crux. “For the first time in my life, I did not know where to run,” he said, explaining that a Ukrainian soldier guided him to shelter and warned that the group had 10 minutes before a second round of attacks would start.

“They say there are a lot of traitors in that terrain,” Krajewski told Crux, referring to people who collaborate with Russian forces. “When they spot humanitarian help being distributed, they give a location through their mobile phone and the gunfire starts.”

“We managed to distribute papal rosaries to the soldiers,” Krajewski said. “Almost all of the Ukrainian soldiers, no matter what their faith was, put the rosary on their neck immediately.”