Ukrainians Clinging to Faith in a Frontline Town * * by Antonio Graceffo

In a town heavily bombarded by Russian artillery and drones, a Protestant pastor not only maintains his church, but also helps it flourish, even as the front line approaches and most civilians have fled.

Pastor Yuriy stated, “Listening to God is the most important thing right now. But we had a similar situation before.” The church has narrowly avoided destruction several times, with drones hitting cars in the parking lot and many nearby homes damaged. However, Pastor Yuriy emphasizes, “We worry more about people right now than the building.”

Despite the circumstances, the church continues to hold services and choir practices. Pastor Yuriy notes that each day sees more civilians deciding to leave. “A lot of evacuations will be happening soon. We have a lot of elderly people, people who don’t have anywhere to go.” The church provides shelter for evacuees until relocation plans are in place. “We need to guide them by the hand, because they would not be able to go on their own. We’re praying that God is going to provide and help.”

This mirrors the situation in 2022 when the full-scale invasion began, leading to rapid territorial gains by Russian forces and millions fleeing. The pastor recalls, “Our team left as well. Only myself and two chaplains were left here. I even printed out a sign that said the church was closed.”

Before officially closing, the pastor reconsidered. “I thought, maybe I’ll hold one last service for whoever might come.” To his surprise, 400 people attended, many of whom he had never met. “Unbelievers,” he remarked, yet they came when they heard a service was happening.

Encouraged, he chose to stay and continue services. He fondly recalls the faith that emerged in those early, desperate days. “We were praying that the enemy would not enter here. We were praying for a counterattack.”

Eventually, foreign military aid and volunteers boosted the Ukrainian defense, pushing Russian forces out of many regions and allowing locals to return. “Up until this point, God has been leading us,” Pastor Yuriy said.

However, recent developments have shifted the advantage back to Russian forces, causing Ukrainian troops to retreat.

“I know that it’s season two of our process,” the pastor explained. “We are praying that God is going to keep us safe, because I know that God has spoken to us about this before,” referring to the earlier phase of the conflict starting with Moscow’s 2014 aggression in Donbas and Crimea. “We stand on the ground and the affirmation that God has spoken to us before.”

Beyond physical safety, there is an urgent need for generators and power stations, as frequent power outages plague churches, police stations, and local public services. “A lot of explosions happen, and they hit the electrical infrastructure. So, a lot of money is going towards fuel,” Pastor Yuriy noted.

Many residents near the front line face severe economic challenges, with constant blackouts forcing them to purchase fuel or oil to remain warm during winter—a financial burden becoming increasingly difficult to bear.

As Russian forces advance and air strikes escalate, the region is experiencing a continuous wave of civilian displacement, leaving neighborhoods empty and damaged by artillery, lacking power or heat. With local energy infrastructure suffering daily bombardment, there are growing calls for advanced air defense systems, such as Patriot missiles, to protect vulnerable towns. Despite the shifting front line and deteriorating security, and as more families are forced to flee, Pastor Yuriy remains steadfast, keeping the church open as a crucial sanctuary for those left behind.

Amid these daunting challenges, the pastor remains hopeful. “I feel like God is holding it up. Since the full-scale invasion, more and more people have started coming,” he said. Hundreds have been baptized into the congregation, a spiritual revival he believes is impervious to any artillery or advancing army.