Vasyl (seated, centre) with his wife and family

Vasyl Maximovici served as a pastor in a town south of Kramatorsk, in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. As that area became the frontline in the war this summer, he evacuated himself and his family, and as many of his congregation as he could persuade to accompany them, first to Zaporizhia and then to Kyiv.

The experience of his own family mirrors that of the people around them. “My wife’s place of work in Kramatorsk burned down after it was hit by rockets,” he says. “So she is unemployed like most of the people in our area.

“Our church building was intact. In August the windows were broken when our town was hit by a bomb but we repaired them.”

Even in Zaporizhia they were unsafe, so he found a vehicle and transported family after family in the seven-hour journey to Kyiv. “I hope that those who remain understand the importance of safety,” he says. “You never know when bombs will hit, and people are living in constant, unknown risk.”

Vasyl is one of six pastors in Ukraine, supported by Blythswood through Romanian-based organisation Elpis Foundation. “Your support is very significant for me and my family,” he says. “We left our house. We took with us as many things as we could. Your support helps us in the home we rent.”

First in Zaporizhia and now in Kyiv, Vasyl travels a lot to visit small churches which lack pastoral support. “I thank God for strengthening me in all areas of my life,” he says. “I read the Scriptures for myself as well as for preparing sermons. I have time for prayer alone, with my wife, and with the church. Sometimes we meet with the family to encourage each other.

“Thank you for helping us to survive in war conditions.”