February 16, 2026
Day 1454
News from Ukraine
This winter has felt incredibly long. Even with spring only two weeks away, we can hardly feel it coming. In our region, winters are usually mild, but this year was different. Freezing rain turned to ice, snow made roads dangerous, and melting was followed by sudden frost again and again. The constant changes were exhausting. Still, our town was spared the worst. In larger cities, people endured freezing temperatures without heat, water, or electricity. These harsh conditions have been especially difficult for our soldiers. While we faced icy streets, they stood on the front lines in the same bitter cold, holding back the enemy. As we wait for spring, we are reminded how much strength and endurance this season has required — especially from those who protect us.
It has grown a little quieter in our small town, yet the war is never far away. We still hear distant explosions, a constant reminder that danger remains. Meanwhile, the great cities — Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, and many others — continue to suffer heavily. Almost every night, groups of enemy drones gather over the sea. We can watch their movement on our phones as they circle in the darkness, preparing to strike. We lie awake, wondering where the next target will be. When missiles are launched, there is sometimes no time at all. Radars do not always detect them quickly enough, and explosions can come before the air-raid alarm even sounds. This is the rhythm of our nights now — waiting, listening, praying.
We thank God for the safe trip to Kyiv and return home for Serhiy and Sasha. Attacks on Kyiv are ongoing. Sasha had another procedure on his spinal cord. It’s been three years since Sasha was wounded and all this time he has been in bed and can’t move his legs, can’t sit. For three years he experienced many emotional ups and downs, from hope to despair, from anger to depression. A week after the trip to Kyiv, Sasha said that he started to feel something in his legs, and then he confidently stated that he felt touches. it filled him with hope again. He is supported by his family, he is a father of five children, his military colleagues support him, they visit him when they can, and Sasha is also supported by our church, we pray for him all the time, visit him and share the gospel with him, we really hope that he will give his heart to Jesus and be able to rely on him and live with him no matter what the situation is.
Last week, our church celebrated a special milestone — 30 years since we gathered for our very first service as a young congregation. We don’t have a photo from that day. At the time, none of us even owned a camera. But what we do have are vivid memories and a deep joy that has never faded. We remember the cold room, the simple setting, and the excitement in our hearts as we stepped forward in faith together. Over these three decades, we have walked through many seasons. Much has changed — our city, our circumstances, and even our faces. Yet one thing has remained constant: God’s faithfulness. He has sustained us, guided us, and blessed us, calling us to be salt and light in our community. Thirty years later, that same joy and gratitude still fill our hearts as we look ahead with hope.
Our anniversary was marked by another unexpected and deeply meaningful moment — saying goodbye to our faithful friend, mentor, teacher, and missionary, Clay Quarterman, who devoted many years of his life to serving in our country. It is difficult to put into words the mixture of longing and gratitude we feel when we remember the times we shared: Bible studies around simple tables, our very first worship services, church picnics, and long conversations over tea. Those ordinary moments became sacred memories. Some people enter our lives and bring a bright, steady light. Clay was one of those people. His faith, dedication, and love have left a lasting mark on our church and on many hearts across Ukraine. We thank God for all the missionaries who have served here — and especially for Clay, who gave such a significant part of his life to strengthening the church in Ukraine.
Thank you for the powerful prayer support we feel every single day. Your prayers truly sustain and strengthen us. Please continue to pray for our ministry to war veterans, especially as we carry out renovation work for the future Veterans’ Center. Pray that this place will become a space of healing, restoration, and hope. We also ask for your prayers for our outreach to children in the orphanage, to refugees who have lost so much, and to the group of local volunteers who serve faithfully and sacrificially. Your partnership in prayer means more than we can express.
Please, send your donations to Pathway Ministries
http://www.pathwayministriesinc.org
In Christ,
Lyuda
P.S Attached are photos from our church dinner celebrating our anniversary, our time with the children at the orphanage, and the winter weather we experienced a few weeks ago. You will also find a photo of our counselor, George, leading a training session for church members who are preparing to volunteer at the future Veterans’ Center.
