Embassy of Ukraine in U.S. Declares Russian Attack on Ukrainian Church ‘Deliberate’

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The House of the Gospel Church in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia was struck by a Russian bomb while attendees were holding a prayer meeting last week. The Embassy of Ukraine in the U.S. released a public statement that reported that at least one person was killed and eight others were injured, according to Baptist Press.

“This is a deliberate attack on people of faith, those who gathered peacefully to pray,” the embassy stated.

It went on to note that the church has about 300 members and has served the community for years.

Former Member of Ukrainian Parliament Confirms ‘Direct Attack’ on People of Faith

Pavel Unguryan, a former member of the Ukrainian parliament, confirmed that the church was struck while church members and leaders were inside. He told Baptist Standard that the person who was killed was a minister, Ruslan Utyuzh, and that rescue teams were still searching the rubble for both the deceased and any possible survivors.

Unguryan said the church was built by the congregants “over many years, sacrificing their own finances and strength.”

“This is not just another building destroyed,” Unguryan added, “this is a direct attack on the church in Ukraine, on people of faith who gathered peacefully to worship God. Please stand with us in prayer and action.”

Elijah Brown, general secretary and CEO of the Baptist World Alliance, told Baptist Standard that, “The ongoing targeting of churches, and places of Worship, must come to an immediate stop.”

He referred to the decimation of the church as “yet another poignant reminder of the moral bankruptcy of wars of ambition, which leave in their wake the destruction of lives, but not the destruction of faith.”

Over 700 Religious Buildings Destroyed by Russian Military, Putin Declaring ‘Holy Mission’

Russian forces have damaged or destroyed at least 737 religious buildings since the 2022 invasion, according to a report picked up by Persecution.org.
 
 Earlier in the year, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that invading Ukraine is a “holy mission,” and he declared Russian soldiers to be “warriors” who are fighting the war “as if at the Lord’s behest,” according to The Independent.

That sick declaration led to multiple church leaders calling him out as an anti-Christ-type figure.

“Trying to do this with power and violence, which is not about love, not about Christian values, is more like the Anti-Christ in the Christian world,” the Rector at the Paris of the Protection of the Holy Mother of God in central London told The Independent.

“Seen from a Christian perspective, you don’t use unholy means to pursue a holy mission [especially] when that unholy mission involves slaughtering people, invading their country, and telling lies,” Nick Baines, former Bishop of Leeds, told The Independent.

It’s been discovered that those in territories under Russian occupation are being commissioned by the Russian government to promote clergy that is embracing Moscow’s policy, and remove religious leaders who are continuing to remain loyal to Kyiv, according to Persecution.org.

Those who are loyal to Kyiv are often singled out as being connected to Western governments, and face fines, harassment, being closed down, or even forced to leave their communities and homes, according to Persecution.org.

Nevertheless, many of these persecuted Christians are standing up with courage, resilience, and hanging on to hope in spite of the horrendous conditions in which they are forced to live. A ministry called Faith Under Siege has captured many of their stories on film in an effort to help them get the truth out regarding what they face every day, and is streaming those true stories through Angel Studios.

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Elizabeth Delaney has been a freelance content writer for over 20 years and has enjoyed having her prose published in both the non-fiction and fiction markets. She has written various types of content, including Christian articles, healthy lifestyle, blog posts, business topics, news articles, product descriptions, and some fiction. She is also a singer-songwriter-musician. When she is not busy with writing or music, she enjoys spending time with friends or family and doing fun social activities such as hiking, swing dancing, concerts, and other activities.