From Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 511):

Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer;
from the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,
for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.
Psalm 61:1‭-‬3

Last night, Ukraine survived a massive attack from the air. Russia attacked Ukraine with cruise missiles “Kalibr,” cruise missiles Kh-22, cruise missiles “Oniks,” a guided air missile Kh-59, and Iranian-made Shahed drones. Most of these weapons were aimed at Odesa. Russia needed leverage, having suspended the grain agreement, so they attacked seaport infrastructure and grain storage. They destroyed 60,000 tons of grain intended for China that had to be shipped as part of the grain agreement.
One of the missiles left a huge…

From Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 510):

Oh, grant us help against the foe,
for vain is the salvation of man!
With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes.
Psalm 60:11‭-‬12

A couple of days ago, we were meeting someone at a train station. We got there early, so we had time to walk up and down the platform. We noticed an older man sitting on a curbside. It looked like he was waiting for someone. Our son was getting restless, so this man invited him to sit on the curbside with him. Being a friendly, talkative boy, our son started telling him who we were waiting for. The man apparently knew the train schedule well because he asked if we were waiting for the specific…

By Tom Mills, Jul 18, 2023 (Mission the the World)

Lena and her husband, Mykhailo, a Ukrainian pastor, began preparing for war even before the initial attacks in February 2022 and considered their options for their family. They considered heading east to stay with Lena’s mother. They also considered Lena and the children fleeing to a safe location. But as they prayed, God made it clear they should both stay in Odesa. It was important to them that Mykhailo continue to serve the church in Odesa and Lena wanted to support him in that. They considered sending their teenage children away, but the kids wanted to stay with the family. In the end, staying was the right decision for the family, and for the church.

As a child, Lena lived in the east and had been taught by her grandmother that she had a great Russian heritage. As…

From Euromaiden Press: Good morning World! Good morning Ukraine!

Oksana, an operating room nurse with the 128th Brigade, shares her experiences in the war zone.

Despite heavy casualties, wounded soldiers continue fighting and liberating their land. Oksana, aka “Ksiukha”, has been with the brigade since the war began in 2015. Ksiukha is an army jargon term referring to a shortened version of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, specifically the AKSU. It features a folding stock and a shortened barrel.

Initially, there was no stabilization medical center, so Oksana worked tirelessly evacuating the wounded. She became skilled at administering medical aid while on the move. She recalls two shell-shocked soldiers who were disoriented and experiencing severe trauma. With no sedatives available, she calmed them by singing a lullaby and managed to safely transport them to the hospital.

Oksana emphasizes the contrast between medical work…

From Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 509):

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me; deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men.
Psalm 59:1‭-‬2

On this day 9 years ago (July 17, 2014), Russia shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur over the East of Ukraine. All 298 people on board, including 80 children, were killed. Last year, the District Court of The Hague established that an aircraft was hit by a Russian-made Buk anti-aircraft missile system, transported from Russia to the temporarily occupied parts of the Donetsk region, where the Russia-backed criminals launched the missile. While the trial found three men guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment in absentia…

From Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 508):

Let them vanish like water that runs away;
when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted.
Psalm 58:7

As a kid, I heard WWII stories and wondered how people lived during those days. Were they always mourning? Did they wear only gray clothes because they had no joy in life? Did they eat only bread and water? I had lots of stereotypical images in my mind and couldn’t believe people could laugh, get married, or have children during the war.

The war in Ukraine started over nine years ago, and the past 500+ days were bound to happen sooner or later. How does one cope with something like this? How do you keep on living when someone is dying for you?

I’ve seen this question addressed by several people over the last couple of days. One said it took her a few…

From Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 507):

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.
Psalm 57:1

Some days, I feel like we live in the never-ending Groundhog Day. Missiles and kamikaze drones come again and again, and I get lost in the names of the cities that are attacked. Some of them are attacked daily, so I am often confused if it’s something new or something I already know about.

Today, I read that the Ukrainian government has opened an evacuation train route from Sumy. People will be able to get to Kyiv and get settled in a temporary refugee camp…