Since August, the situation near the front line has been rapidly deteriorating. The active frontline is drawing closer, with intensified artillery shelling and drone attacks.
Despite the danger, some ministers have chosen to remain. One of them, Pastor Leonid Skumatov, stayed in his hometown to continue serving the residents, most of whom were elderly and unable to leave.
He also visited nearby towns and villages to evacuate people, and to deliver food, humanitarian kits, medicines, and the hope of the Gospel to those in need.
Pastor Leonid’s visitation and now his grave
On September 19, while returning from a visit with a lonely elderly man, he came under attack from a Russian drone. His injuries proved fatal, and he passed away the next morning. Because there was no access to the local cemetery, he was buried in the yard.
Volunteer Andriy Malov recalled: “He was loved. People awaited his arrival. He always came, even to the most dangerous areas – always wearing a suit and a red tie.”
His death is deeply mourned by his family, brothers and sisters in Christ, and his townspeople.
In Pastor Viktor Palenyi’s area, all families with children have already been subject to compulsory evacuation. Entry was tightly controlled by checkpoints, yet Pastor Viktor managed to visit twice weekly for a few hours, leaving before 3 p.m. Even under these trying conditions, up to 40 people faithfully gathered on Sunday and Wednesday mornings.
In early August, the situation took a downward turn for the remaining believers when a shell struck the roof of the prayer house. The brothers covered the roof to protect the building from rain. Meanwhile, they also helped evacuate church members as the town became increasingly unsafe.
Despite the difficulties, on 31st August, the church celebrated Harvest Thanksgiving. Pastor Viktor remembers that day with a smile, as people rejoiced in fellowship, thanking the Lord for the gifts of the field and for the gift of life.
Harvest Thanksgiving display
The last church service
In September, however, conditions continued to worsen. Some members could no longer attend meetings, as shelling and drones made movement dangerous.
Praying for God’s protection, Pastor Viktor and the brothers continued evacuating families and bringing support to those who could not leave. On the same day that Pastor Leonid was fatally wounded, they held their last church service. Since then, entry has been denied at checkpoints.
Pastor Viktor continues his ministry where five families are living after being evacuated too.
Both Leonid and Viktor, along with other pastors, have been sustained in their ministry by SGA’s Emergency Leadership Support.