Ukraine: An Independence Day Story
Wednesday, August 24, marked the sixth month of Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine. Though to ask any person on the streets in Lviv, Kyiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Buccha, or Rivne, it is war, a campaign of pure evil, and a daily torment against their spirits, minds, and bodies. For much of the summer, people had been lured into a false sense of relative safety as Russia focused its efforts on the east and south along the Black Sea. However, on August 24, Independence Day, Russia reminded everyone in Ukraine that it still desires to crush them. Here is a snapshot of the day:
· A civilian passenger train east of Kyiv was bombed, killing 33 people.
· A town one hour west of Kyiv was shelled. Our partner Radooga serves several families there.
· Near Lviv, 22 people were killed and 50 injured from shelling.
· Towns east of Kyiv and south of Lviv saw a significant increase in military activity.
· Staff for each of our partners in Ukraine spent much of Independence Day underground or in shelters, listening to shelling and 189 air raid sirens.
Looking at the bigger picture, the situation remains challenging with some additional staggering numbers. At the end of August, there are over eight million internally displaced people in Ukraine, and an additional six million people are stranded in war zones. Over two million children are now refugees. 118 hospitals have been destroyed and 628 are severely damaged. 173 churches have been destroyed. 800,000 people have lost their homes and nearly four million people need to repair what remains. People have returned to Ukraine because relief funds from the EU have decreased sharply. Many of these people are homeless, without consistent power, while food and medicine supplies are sparse. September in Ukraine sees summer wane and in October the cold of winter comes quickly.
City Church makes it possible for a father in Ukraine to communicate with his sons using Zoom
Our partners are showing the enduring presence of Christ!
In the face of these challenges, our partners’ thoughts are on how they can continue to show the kindness of Christ. People are being fed in body and spirit, with reports of authentic spiritual revival across Ukraine. The church is doing a fantastic job! Here are some numbers we just received.
· The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Lviv sees 160 people per day, an increase.
· The Ukraine Evangelical Theological Seminary in Kyiv reports a large increase in relief efforts among internally displaced people.
· Radooga, which focuses on children affected by war in Ukraine, is opening a school with nearly 400 students and no online offerings. They have decided to return to Ukraine!
· Beni in Romania continues to take supplies into Ukraine monthly. Meanwhile, he and his staff with Cru are maintaining a refugee center increased to 15 housing units.
· City Church has seen some of their hotel residents relocate to Ukraine, while they are helping several others find employment and long-term apartments in Lithuania.
· The College of Theology and Social Sciences in Warsaw maintains a residence for up to 50 refugees who no longer have homes in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Counseling Center has trained nearly 500 counselors in trauma and PTSD care.
Responding to the need, standing with the heroes of Ukraine
Funding from the West has slowed to a trickle. We heard from one of our partners that relief funds that last spring took a week to raise now take two months for the same amount. The Outreach Foundation remains committed to these partners. We wire funds monthly to our partners as they provide physical, spiritual, and emotional care to so many. These funds depend on your generosity! Thank you for standing with these spiritual heroes of Ukraine.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Along with your prayers, you may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.