By Laura McKillip Wood
In the midst of war, Ukrainians are reaching out to help one another survive.
Russian forces have besieged cities across eastern and southern regions—causing many deaths and widespread losses of homes and property—but many brave Ukrainians who initially evacuated have attempted to return to areas of intense fighting to bring food and supplies to people trapped there. Ukrainians who never fled from the eastern cities, meanwhile, have ventured out to transport people to train stations for evacuation or to help them find food. Social media is rife with stories of families searching for lost children and mourning deaths of loved ones.
Ivan* rescued 57 children from birth to age 4 from a makeshift bomb shelter in the basement of an orphanage. After removing them, he took the children to his church and organized people to care for them. Ivan also stood in line at an ATM to get $500 and used it to buy cereal and meat for people in need. Food is difficult to find, though, and prices are triple what they were before Russia’s invasion.
The staff and students of Tavriski Christian Institute (TCI), a Christian college in southern Ukraine, who evacuated together to western Ukraine, have begun organizing relief efforts to other parts of the country. Since they had pre-existing relationships with churches outside of Ukraine, they have received donations and distributed $48,000 to 19 Ukrainian churches. Funds are transferred electronically, enabling Christians in areas under Russian control to purchase available food and supplies and deliver them to people hiding in bomb shelters. They also try to help people escape to safer areas of the country. TCI has evacuated 80 people so far.
The staff and students long to return to their hometown of Kherson to provide this humanitarian relief, but Russians prevent access to that city. In Kherson, people are struggling to survive due to dwindling resources. One report said an orphanage full of children with special needs behind enemy lines is running out of food and medication.
“It is still impossible to get there, but we pray and hope,” said Katya*, a professor at the college, “We are working on arranging a humanitarian convoy for the city and nearby towns when it becomes possible to enter. We need to go soon. They are running out of food.” Katya feels this urgency because her own sister is trapped there.
The capital city of Kyiv and the surrounding regions have suffered heavy attacks. Networks of Christians communicate with one another via text and social media to alert those with resources of areas where those resources are needed. They also communicate to locate people who want to evacuate and then attempt to transport them to the train station.
“Transportation is difficult,” said Masha*. People try to discern when it is safe to leave and the best route to reach safety. Masha and her family have chosen to stay in the city, despite the bombing.
“Many of our friends are urging us to leave Kyiv,” she said. “We believe we are in the place where God wants us at this difficult time.”
Masha told of a neighbor who tried to leave. As she and her family traveled on the road out of town, they encountered Russians who had stopped about 30 Ukrainian cars.
“Russians pulled men and even teenage boys out of the cars, lined them up, and threatened to shoot.” The neighbor’s eyes filled with terror as she recollected the scene. “Leaving Kyiv is not a good option,” she said.
Not only do people fear leaving their homes, but they also fear remaining in their homes and becoming targets of Russian aggression. A pastor in an occupied area reported that “Russian soldiers get drunk and then shoot at homes and people indiscriminately.” He and the mayor had to evacuate a family whose home was destroyed this way. Others did not escape; one report said a family was killed in their home when Russian soldiers randomly shot into it.
Prayer and Relief Requests
Pray that God will open a door for relief into cities where the Russians have blocked it. Pray for the people in bomb shelters and for those risking their lives to bring them supplies. Pray for believers and nonbelievers who care for others at such a horrible time. Pray for a miracle in Ukraine.
If you would like to contribute financially to Ukrainian relief efforts, consider these organizations:
• Proem Ministries, which is welcoming, sheltering, and feeding refugees from Ukraine as they arrive in Poland.
• Mulberry International provides relief to refugees through Ukrainian organizations on the ground.
• Pantano Christian Church, Ukraine Fund, was started by Glen Elliott, a former missionary to Ukraine who serves with the church. (Choose “Ukraine” in drop-down box.)
• IDES (International Disaster Emergency Service) — designate your gift as “Ukraine relief.”
• Mountainview Christian Church (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) is collecting money that is being sent to TCI staff doing relief work. (Watch a video of TCI’s relief efforts here: https://youtu.be/85PNKP1jzv8).
*Names have been changed.
Laura McKillip Wood, former missionary to Ukraine, lives in Papillion, Nebraska, and writes about missions for Christian Standard.
0 Comments