UKRAINE UPDATE

Note From Bro. Barry:

God bless you all.

I get many requests for any updates on the situation concerning Believers in Ukraine. There is very little information coming from the area, but recently two brothers traveled into two areas of Ukraine to minister in the churches and encourage the Believers there. We are still supporting personal needs there as we hear about them from the Believers. There are always medical needs, and living expenses, etc. And as the cold Ukrainian winter approaches, there is a need for wood and other types of fuel. So, I will include the report from the brothers who went deep inside Ukraine, and I will be leaving out most of the names and locations for their protection. I also have included a recent photo and report about Bro. Viktor was deceitfully drafted into the army.

Bro. Barry,

“We are in Ukraine having meetings in 2 places. First is Užhorod, second is about 7hours of drive deeper into the country near the city of Chernivtsi. It was good and we just want to be encouragement for believers along the complicated way that they are going through. This was a burden in our hearts to see them, have meetings and fellowship. Not many other visit them right now, so they really appreciate it when someone comes. We went only as 3 brothers, because the car was fully packed with clothes collected in our church and other things to bring also some physical help to believers

There are complications with electricity, because some electric connections were damaged in the country and generally the energy infrastructure is being [damaged] all the time. In the evening they mostly turn off the electricity and Believers use petrol generators for producing electricity or led lights when this happens. The other thing is border and military controls that are on the roadways inside the country (maybe every 40-80 km). They stop you [at roadblocks] with machine guns, they have a system of passport and identity control everywhere and check where you go and who are you. If you are healthy Ukrainian man between 18-59 they mostly write your details down and you can be called into the war every minute.

That is why many brothers or man stay at home and don’t travel too much. They try to avoid control points. Still, they can stop you unexpectedly mainly in the cities and put you on the list. The sad thing is, that a new law now forces every man between 18-59 to go to the military office and give documents to them. The only justification [for exemption] is when you have minimum 3 children up to 18 years old or you have confirmation from the doctor that you have serious health problems (this is not easy to receive). We heard about some boys even from the churches, that left their homes during rainy night, left car in the forest and somehow crossed the border fence to run away from the country. They informed parents days later, that they are in different country like Norway for example. They are afraid because they know that some of their friends their age were already killed at the front.

But, the Believers are positive, very sensitive to the influence of the Holy Spirit and very open to receive the Word. This is a very positive side of the situation. They pray more, they love the Lord and they want to serve Him in the place Lord Placed them.

The first church that we visited and had meeting was church of pastor brother Vladislav Tuliebitch in Uzhorod- Friday night (Bro. Viktor Wovilka was taken to the war area is from that church). We spent the afternoon and night with these precious Believers. On Saturday morning we went about 470km further to the east and near the City of Chernivtsi in the church of Bro. Kruchko. In both churches we met about 40 Believers and some were on the streaming and some could not come (mainly some brothers, who are afraid to travel, but still many brothers and sisters gathered). We spend 3 days there having 3 meetings there and a lot of fellowship to the midnight hours or even more every day. After it we had to say goodbye with tears in our and their eyes and go home approximately 1000 kilometers.

Info about brother Viktor Wovilka:

Bro. Viktor (pictured below) was deceitfully taken to the preparation camp and was very close to go to the front, but after training he refused to sing military oath and refused to take the machine gun to his hand. First two days were hard and they wanted to throw him into the prison, but finally he was allowed to join the other section, where he deals with support work around the war. Many are praying for him and church intercedes for him. We heard that maybe he will be able to be moved close to his home and be part of the military control that is on the roads across the country. Brother Viktor from Uzhgorod continues to stay at the military base. There are no reports that he will be released home. But thank God he is not being sent to the front line. All the other men with whom he was brought are already fighting. Let us remember Him before the Lord.

Info about brother Sergiej Khalus (husband of Sis. Luda (last picture), in Poland):

He was taken to the front in December, 2022 and Lord still protect him there. Many of his friends already died. He was the only one from his military unit who was moved to be not exactly on the frontlines, but around 40 kilometers from it and he is part of supplying team.

There is another brother from Khmelnytskyi region, who is Message Believer. He is somewhere in the front, but he is alive and may the Lord protect Him.

Info about brother Eugene A from Donetsk:

Praise report from the family of brother Eugene A. (middle picture) from Donetsk. You met them in Norway. They have returned back to Donetsk. Last week shell fragments fell into their yard. Thank God the whole family was inside the house and the house itself was not damaged. In the neighbors' house, the roof and windows were broken.