From: The Ukrainer — The map of Ukrainian Protestantism is remarkably diverse. It includes Lutherans, Calvinists, Baptists, Evangelicals, Methodists, Presbyterians, and many others.
In occupied territories, Russian authorities perceive Protestants as “agents of the West”, especially of the United States. This belief has led to particularly hostile treatment — churches have been shut down, pastors have been persecuted, kidnapped, and even killed.
Mykhailo Britsyn is a Protestant pastor from Melitopol — a city occupied by Russian forces since February 2022. He was detained and interrogated by the occupation authorities because of his religious leadership role. The Russians cut down the cross from his church and turned the building into a government office.
In our new documentary, Christians of Ukraine, we share his story. Here are some quotes.
💬 “Russian soldiers and their FSB agents tried first to ignore us, then tried to bribe or blackmail us. They wanted to lure us on their side so that we, as pastors, would become their mouthpieces. But we rejected it.”
💬 “One pastor’s son was arrested — and FSB guys blackmailed that pastor. They pressured him to give orders to the churches of his denomination to accept Russia and to praise Russians. They put his son in jail so he would praise them for this ‘freedom’.”
💬 “KGB methods at work there in the occupied territory. You’re not allowed to pray in Ukrainian. You’re not allowed to pray for Ukraine. You’re not allowed to pray for those who left for [free] Ukraine. Is it Christianity? Is it faith? It’s FSB rules.”
💬 “We were peaceful people. It was our city. ‘We liberated you.’ From what? From electricity? From normal life?”
Don’t miss the release of our new documentary “Christians of Ukraine”. Today at 19:00 Kyiv | 18:00 Brussels | 17:00 London | 12:00 Washington DC on our YouTube channel.
🔔 Tap the link and hit the bell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjHSTS62xHQ
Voice of Ukraine 