Ukraine Update: Day 26 of Russian invasion

UKRAINE – The following update is provided by Rev. Oleksiy Navrotskyy, Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) Missionary to the Ukraine and was written on March 21, 2022:

It is 26^th day of Russian aggression against Ukraine. More than 3 million Ukrainians (mostly women and children) have had to flee the country. Another 6 million+ have had to leave their cities, houses, and churches searching for shelter. Many citizens of Mariupol, Kyiv, Kharkiv can never return back home because their homes don’t exist anymore. 

Last week Ukrainian troops were able to stop occupants from all directions. Now, foes are trying to reorganize and strengthen their forces for future attacks.

The Volunteer Team of the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU) used this temporary lull for reorganization and action. Last week SELCU received two long trucks filled with humanitarian aid materials from Germany, including mattresses; blankets; clothes; pampers; hundreds of kilograms of cans and preserves. In addition, SELCU immigrants from surrounding countries collected goods which have been transported here. It took the team two days to sort through all the goods, putting together about 150 food bags for SELCU church members—all of which were delivered by the end of last week.

On the weekend Bishop Sasha Yurchenko visited Rev. Yuri Timerkan, and delivered food, gas, and other necessities to SELCU members in areas that have suffered the most by Russian invasion—Tank battles took place in one of these regions just a week before. Bishop Yurchenko had to drive the 200 km journey in about 800 km in order to avoid battlegrounds and foe locations while out doing these deliveries. Thanks be to God that the trip was safe and successful and that Lutherans in these areas received food for their bodies and for their souls.

On Friday, I was able to deliver food and medicine to members of my own congregation, and to share God’s Word and Holy Communion with many. It was a rare opportunity to see my people and speak God’s life-giving Word to them… It was a comfort to them, and also to me, since most of my communication with parishioners has had to be via phone or messenger. Many are afraid to go out because of air raid alerts and the sound of explosions.

Last week another group of SELCU refugees was taken to Romania. Twenty-two women with children were met by Romanian Lutherans, hosted at a local hotel, and, the next morning, sent by bus to Germany. The trip to Germany from Romania takes at least 29 hours. Over the last three weeks, we have been able to help more than 200 people to safety.

Rev. Sergey Bevz has also been very busy, assisting refugees coming from Ukrainian cities that have suffered the most destruction, as well as surrounding areas. Most of these refugees are in need of professional medical and psychological treatment. 

The war has softened human hearts and turned them to the church to hear the Gospel of hope and also to receive any help.

I cannot—and do not want to—speak much on the devastation, woe, and pain that war has brought to our land and to our people. It is too heavy not to cry. It looks like the war in Ukraine will not end quickly. We need much strength, patience, comfort and love from above to accomplish our mission—to proclaim the Gospel message of the forgiveness of sins, the comfort from the Holy Spirit, and care for the people.

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For those who would like to direct financial support to the pastors and people of the SELCU, you can do so through LCC’s Ukraine Aid Fund Here.

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