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Ukraine at War – Update 23, 2024

A Mother’s Unexpected Blessing

Very few families in Ukraine are untouched by the pain, sorrow, and loss caused by this war. Therefore, when a positive story emerges, we want to celebrate these small miracles that God uses to instill hope in people.

The saying that people turn to God in times of hardship rings true in Posad-Pokrovske, a village near Kherson in south Ukraine. Before the war, church attendance was sparse, with only about a dozen people attending worship services. Now, more than 80 people attend each Sunday.

All these people have been united by a shared grief – war. Their village suffered extensive damage during the conflict. Still, this community has not only come together in prayer for victory but has also actively supported the Ukrainian army to the best of its abilities. 

Pastor Andriy and his wife, Anna, are at the heart of this spiritual resurgence. They have played a crucial role in uniting and inspiring the villagers to serve.

The Dnipro River in the Kherson Region serves as a natural boundary, dividing the region into two distinct zones. The liberated territories lie on the western, or right bank, while the eastern, or left bank, remains under Russian occupation. Along this critical frontier, Ukrainian soldiers stand as a living bulwark, defending the reclaimed lands with determination and at significant personal risk.

These are not merely soldiers or abstract defenders but fathers, husbands, sons, and brothers who have been profoundly transformed by almost three years of unrelenting warfare. Their reality is marked by prolonged separation from loved ones and fading memories of simple comforts like sleeping in their own beds or enjoying home-cooked meals.

Consequently, women from Pastor Andriy’s church prepare homemade food for the military, including borscht (beet soup), holodets (jellied meat), holubtsi (cabbage rolls), and varenyky (perogies), to bring them a bit of joy. They also knit socks, sweaters, and other garments for the soldiers.

Pastor Andriy personally delivers these thoughtful gifts to the troops to avoid risking other people’s lives.

While with the troops, Andriy records gratitude videos when it’s safe to do so. These courageous servicemen express heartfelt appreciation for those who support and care for them and are often moved to tears of gratitude. The church women themselves cannot hold back tears when viewing these recordings.

One day, a miracle unfolded when Andriy delivered another round of homemade meals to the troops. Upon his return, he set up his laptop to show the volunteers the video messages from the defenders.

The women gathered in a circle, watching the video happily, knowing their efforts were meaningful and appreciated. Suddenly, one woman exclaimed, “Oh, my God! Look, everyone, that’s my son!” As it turned out, this mother had not seen her son since the war began.

Her son, a Special Forces soldier, operates under strict communication restrictions and cannot disclose his location. So, while they had occasional phone conversations, the mother was unaware of how close he was.

This unexpected glimpse of her son brought immense comfort and joy. She repeatedly watched the video, her eyes fixed on his face, smiling through her tears of gratitude. Her heart overflowed with thankfulness to God that her son was not only alive but appeared unharmed.

Pastor Andriy told us that after this remarkable event, his volunteers were even more inspired and committed to their mission. Please pray for pastor Andriy, his volunteer team, and his growing church.

“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season

we will reap if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9

How ‘Where Best Needed’ Funds Are Used

As we begin to plan and prepare for our third winter of conflict, its clear that HART’s support for our partner churches is more critical than ever.

Ukraine is facing its most challenging winter yet. Moscow’s intensified attacks since the spring of 2024 have left Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in a very fragile state compared to earlier stages of the war.

The ultimate aim is to deny civilians critical heating and drinking water during the bitter winter months and break Ukrainian spirits. Intermittent power cuts are already in effect throughout the country, with residents having electricity for typically 6-12 hours daily.

“Where Best Needed” funds will equip us with resources to respond quickly and effectively to the needs of our church partners as they care for the people in their communities during the cold winter months.

“Where Best Needed” funds will assist all existing HART programs and projects that are impacting countless thousands of lives throughout Ukraine.

Together, we are… changing hearts – restoring hope
– and saving lives during this crisis in Ukraine. 

“Carol of the Bells” is a popular Christmas carol, which is based on the Ukrainian New Year’s song “Shchedryk”, written by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in 1914.

“Shchedryk” was performed in Carnegie Hall in October 1921 by Ukrainian musicians seeking US support for a newly declared independent Ukrainian Republic.

However, Mykola Leontovych, had been murdered by the Bolshevik secret police earlier that year, and most of what is now Ukraine would soon thereafter be incorporated into the Soviet Union.

The song was Americanized in 1936, not long after the great famine in Soviet Ukraine, just at the beginning of Stalin’s great terror. The song’s origins were forgotten, as was Ukraine in general.

While “Carol of the Bells” has gone on to become an essential part of the Christmas season in North America and worldwide, today it carries a poignant reminder of its Ukrainian origins and the current plight of its birthplace.

Mykola Leontovych crafted this iconic tune while residing in Pokrovsk, a town in Eastern Ukraine. Today, this same town stands on the brink of destruction, threatened by the advancing Russian military.

When you listen to “Carol of the Bells,” allow its bittersweet melody to not only bring festive joy but also inspire reflection on the devastating conflict and immense suffering endured by the Ukrainian people in this ruthless and senseless war. WATCH VIDEO

A Light in Darkness

Read CHAPTER 4 of this captivating series that chronicles the extraordinary journey and the spiritual insights Pastor/Chaplain Gennady has gleaned from 10 years of serving soldiers and civilians living near the front lines of Ukraine’s war with Russia.

“..how did you navigate through the minefield to get here?” READ MORE

If you are interested in reading the first 3 chapters:

CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3

Pray for Ukraine, Pray for Peace

Here are specific prayer points that can help guide our prayers for the situation in Ukraine. Please share these with your friends and family.