War rages on between Russia and Ukraine which passed beyond a year’s duration since the invasion on February 24th 2022 (click here).
British Asian Christian Association has been providing aid to Ukrainians in Odessa since the outset of the war via Pastor Vasilev in Odessa and to refugees in Moldova (click here).
Our work in Ukraine has expanded recently to help Ukrainians who in October were freed from Russian oppression in Kherson, but subjected to terrible shelling in retaliation for the forced Russian withdrawal (click here).
Pastor Vasiliev shared an update on the dire situation faced by people who remain in war-torn Ukraine, we would encourage you to watch it:
This appeal video was sent to us on the day of the anniversary of the war in Ukraine on 24th February 2023.
Pastor Vasilev is now leading a two city food relief programme funded by British Asian Christian Association. In Odessa his team reaches out to people desperate to meet their daily need for food irrespective of their backgrounds. he also shares the Gospel, holds outreach concerts and hold church services three times a week as he continues his ministry under difficult circumstances. Please pray for him.
His colleague Dimitry in the City of Kherson is working with those who have chosen to remain in Kherson, despite heavy shelling. Most of these are elderly, sick or disabled as many have now fled the city. Pastor Vasilev discusses this situation in the video above. Please pray for this latest aspect of our work.
We would like to continue to donate £500 every month for the aid effort in Ukraine; we need you help to keep up this commitment. If you have been moved by this account you can donate towards this work (here).
From 24 February 2022, which marked the start of the large-scale armed attack by the Russian Federation, to 19 March 2023, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recorded 22,209 civilian casualties in the country: 8,317 killed and 13,892 injured. A full report can be viewed (here)
Fears for a more global impact of this war escalated after shelling of the the city of Enerhodar resulted in power loss at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP); amongst the 10th largest nuclear reactors in the world. Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) [UN’s Nuclear Agency] yesterday (22nd March), said:
“The last remaining back up 330 kilovolt (kV) power line at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, damaged since 1 March, remains disconnected and under repair, again highlighting the fragility of nuclear safety and security at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.” Read the full report (here)
We spoke to Pastor Vasilev about how he and others living in Ukraine, feel about the serious threat to ZNPP, he said:
It’s a worry.
“The devastation caused by nuclear explosions is phenomenal.
“The amount of deaths this would cause is not worth thinking about.
“We put our trust on God and hope that Putin gains more discernment.
“A catastrophe at Zaporizhzhya NPP would as fatal for Russia as it is for Ukraine.”
On 17th March the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued warrants of arrest for two individuals in the context of the situation in Ukraine: Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Ms Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova. In a press release on 17th March they wrote:
“Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, born on 7 October 1952, President of the Russian Federation, is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation (under articles 8(2)(a)(vii) and 8(2)(b)(viii) of the Rome Statute).”
They also wrote:
Ms Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, born on 25 October 1984, Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation, is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.” You can read the full press release (here)
The ICC explained that both persons allegedly committed these crimes in Ukrainian occupied territory at least from 24 February 2022. Stating that ‘There are reasonable grounds to believe’ both of them bear ‘individual criminal responsibility for the listed crimes, ‘for having committed the acts directly, jointly with others and/or through others’. They stated the article 25 (3)(a) of the Rome Statute under which both parties were charged. You can read the Rome Statute (here).
On Tuesday 21st March 2023, Prince William travelled to Poland to thank British soldiers at a secret base for ‘protecting our freedoms’. He addressed a gathering of soldiers, saying:
“Thank you for all you are doing out here.”
“I want to thank you in person for “keeping everyone safe” and “keeping an eye on what’s going on”.
“So, just a big thank you for what you do on a day-to-day basis.”
“You’re doing a really important job out here and defending our freedoms is really important, and everyone back home thoroughly supports you.”
You can watch his visit on the video below posted by The Royal Family Channel:
Prince William has visited Ukrainian refugees and today will be meeting with the Prime Minister of Poland and we ask that you pray for his safety and for for God’s covering over his work.
