From Jon Eide (MTW Ukraine Country Director: This is a pastor in our denomination in Kherson, Ukraine, that was interviewed for this article.
From: Christianity Today by JILL NELSON
Kherson pastor says, “Every day is a small story about how God protects and preserves his people.”
The southern Ukrainian city of Kherson is one of the country’s most dangerous cities. Russian troops are stationed just across the Dnieper river, and simple errands require Presbyterian pastor Volodymyr Barishnev to do some careful planning before he walks out his front door.
Each morning, 32-year-old Barishnev checks the city’s Telegram channel for reports of Kremlin drones and shelling. He maps his route accordingly and always brings his drone detector—a small black device that beeps louder when a drone approaches.
“Every day is a big test,” Barishnev told Christianity Today. “Words cannot express how we feel here.”
Just last month, Russia hit a local sports arena with four glide bombs. The bombing destroyed the sports facility and left one person dead and multiple people injured. The attacks are so frequent, Barishnev said, that silence is unnerving. It makes people feel that Kremlin troops are gearing up for a larger assault.
The people of the region are bracing themselves this week, waiting for something to shift.
United States secretary of state Marco Rubio said this week is “very critical” for America as it decides how much more effort it will pour into negotiations. Kyiv signed an agreement last week granting the US access to minerals, which may encourage President Donald Trump to feel more invested in Ukraine’s success, stability, and sovereignty…
Voice of Ukraine 