Summer coming to an end is not just a change of seasons for those living in Ukraine. In the fifth year of the full-scale Russian invasion, autumn means an intensification of missile and drone attacks against civilian infrastructure.
The main targets are the railway system, petrol stations (especially in regions closest to the front lines), postal services, shopping centres, and large warehouses. Even driving and parking lorries has become unsafe in those areas that can be reached by FPV drones. Any production facility is a potential target. In Kharkiv, anti-drone nets and increased security measures signify that the city has become even more vulnerable to enemy attacks, with casualties almost every week.
Among other cities in Ukraine, its capital, Kyiv, is one of the biggest targets. Last week, several major bridges connecting the two banks of the city were hit, causing serious disruption to traffic and public transport. For several days, travelling between the left and right banks became much more difficult, adding another challenge to everyday life in the city.
Photo: Kyiv State Emergency Service
Oleg and Olga Herasychkin started a ministry and planted a church three years ago in a densely populated area on the left bank of Kyiv.
Last week, a high-rise building neighbouring the one where their church is located was hit by a drone, killing a woman in her flat.
Having been displaced multiple times and once having lost everything they had, Oleg and Olga have taken part in planting seven churches; three started by their own family and four as part of a church-planting team. Now they serve displaced families in Kyiv, run weekly programmes for children and teenagers, and meet with families of military personnel and those whose loved ones were killed or are missing in action. The church is continuing to grow and this summer they baptised three people – each of whom are displaced themselves.
As winter approaches, they will be providing hot meals for people in the area. They have concerns for people’s safety, but being located on the first floor, they have a basement that can be used as a shelter during missile and drone attacks.
Regular attacks, high-stress situations, disrupted sleep, and emotional fatigue from very intense work with people in difficult life circumstances make the ministry challenging, Oleg and Olga admit. Please pray for them, and other ministers and their churches, as Ukraine is about to face the fifth winter of the war.