Our Pastors Are There...

On the night of June 6, Russian occupying forces blew up the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station. The Kakhovka hydroelectric power station is located 5 km from the city of Novaya Kakhovka (Kherson region) and the reservoir held about 18 million cubic meters of water. After the dam burst, tons of water poured downstream in a devastating flood of destruction.

Currently, 13 settlements and four districts of Kherson on the right bank of the Dnipro River, which Ukraine controls, are entirely or partly flooded. People are trying to get out of the flooded areas by boat, but many of them are simply forced to climb onto the roofs of houses and wait for rescue. Operations are underway. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, more than 1,800 people have already been evacuated from the right bank.

The Russians are actively and constantly shelling the right bank, which further complicates the rescue operations. Many people desperately need evacuation, and those who have already left the flooded areas need shelter, drinking water, and food.

The left bank of the river, currently under Russian occupation, is a lower elevation than the right. This area of the Kherson oblast suffered the worst damage. Russian occupying forces took all the watercraft from the civilians and left the flooded areas, abandoning everyone. People have to get on the roof of their houses and wait for salvation which will may never come as no one is able to conduct rescue operations there at this time.

In all, seven villages are flooded. The most serious situation has developed in the towns of Oleshki and Gola Pristan – they are entirely underwater. There is no connection with people there, and the number of human casualties remains unclear.

We need help to supply our pastors (many who are already engaged in the middle of this tragedy) with fuel, food, water and medicine. The supplies are available and we are sending what we can at the moment -- and many vans and trucks are already on the move...

I'm writing you to boldly ask for your help. A financial gift of any amount is greatly appreciated, and will help us do much, much more.

Thank you for your help!

Specifically, pray for the Ukrainian pastors as they organize their leaders to do everything they can in these difficult circumstances. And please, pray for their safety as they evacuate many precious people away from their flooded homes under direct artillery and enemy fire.