Photo: Alicia Fox
Since pro-Russian militants seized areas of eastern Ukraine in 2014, the rebel administration has been targeting religious groups, with the exception of the Russian Orthodox Church. Amid the ongoing Russian occupation, opposition against Christians has increased and numerous churches have been closed in areas controlled by the invading army. Among the places of worship that were forcibly closed in recent months are an Orthodox Church of Ukraine, a Baptist Union church and a Roman Catholic church.
Father Serhi Moskovets is the parish priest for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in Basan, a town located in the Zaporizhzia Region. Along with recently closing the church building where he served, occupation forces filmed a video of him admitting that religious meetings had been held there without Russian permission, and that he possessed literature allegedly containing anti-Russian content. It is unknown if his confession was made under duress.
A Baptist Union church, also located in the Zaporizhzia Region, was invaded by militants in September, making it the seventh Baptist Union church to have been seized since Russia's more recent invasion in February 2022. Although the congregants were allowed to enter to retrieve their communion supplies, the military has since taken over the building. As members of the church gathered their belongings, they prayed for those who had moved into their facility.
In Skadovsk, a city located in the Kherson Region of southern Ukraine, the Roman Catholic Church of St. Therese of the Child Jesus was searched by Russian forces on August 22nd. Breaking the windows and door of the church building, the troops claimed to be searching for explosives and drugs. They alleged that a previous parish priest was a drug lord. The building is now closed and the priest, Father Dominik Fiszer, has returned to his native Poland.
As part of a propaganda campaign, a Russian-controlled television station broadcasted a report on October 1st about the "odious sects" of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Region. Making various false claims, the report attacked members of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, as well as the country's Protestants, Catholics and Jehovah's Witnesses in general. Such reports not only give Russian militants justification for their invasion of Ukraine, but they also demonstrate their intentions to enforce the same restrictions mandated in Russia.
Please continue to pray for peace in Ukraine during the ongoing occupation of Russian forces. In the midst of the violence and uncertainty, may our Ukrainian family in Christ receive courage, strength, guidance and protection as they seek to spread the hope of the Gospel among their communities. Additionally, ask the Lord to fill the many believers encountering persecution in occupied areas of the country afresh with the Holy Spirit, so they can supernaturally demonstrate His love and grace in the face of opposition.
