The intensity of fighting in Ukraine’s eastern front has surged dramatically over the past several months. Russia has been deploying overwhelming numbers of troops and equipment in a relentless attempt to seize as much territory as possible before the year ends, no matter the cost.

 

Russian forces have made gains in the east, and after fierce battles, many towns and villages we once visited are now inaccessible— they’re in the “red” (occupied) and unrecognizable after months of heavy bombing and shelling. People’s homes, schools, churches, and workplaces have been completely destroyed and taken over.

 

This is the grim reality faced by countless Ukrainians, even as much of the world has moved on, and the conflict fades from the headlines. The brutal attritional warfare continues on the front lines, while in major cities, Russian drones and ballistic missiles relentlessly target energy infrastructure and civilian buildings.

 

Despite the pain, the loss, and the overwhelming challenges, the people press on, clinging to hope—hope for peace, for victory, for a free Ukraine.

We remain on the ground, working to evacuate civilians from these dangerous areas, deliver aid to those in need, and, most importantly, share the hope of Jesus Christ amidst the devastation.