March 20, 2026 (Day 1486)
News from Ukraine
Spring has arrived, bringing warmer weather, renewed hope, and a sense of relief. With the end of frost and snow, we are also spared the long blackouts and the disruptions to water and heating that so often followed. There is something about spring that lifts the spirit—awakening a quiet hope that the war might soon come to an end, even when there are no clear signs of it yet.
For Sergey and me, this spring brought a small but precious break—a two-week vacation. We traveled to the United States to spend time with our daughter and grandchildren, reconnect with friends, and visit several churches. It was truly a gift for us—a time of rest, renewal, and meaningful connection. We were able to take a short break from the air raid alarms, sleep peacefully at night, and shift our focus from the war—something we constantly live with—to other things.
Travel to another Continent Moving from one airport to another we saw many people of different cultures and even communicated with some. Today, everyone is concerned about the global situation, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and none of our interlocutors wants the war to continue. As a result of our meetings, you feel very keenly how fragile our world is and how easy it is to upset the established balance. The most pressing prayer today is a prayer for peace, heard from all corners of the globe. I know that our Lord is just, He will definitely stop and punish the evil that comes to destroy and take life. But it’s so hard to wait when you’re in difficult circumstances. And although today we do not see a single hint that the war will end, but accepting His will and asking Him to bless us with the peace that comes from the Lord.
We returned home yesterday and were grateful to step right back into the rhythm of everyday life. We stopped by the church, where a youth group meeting was taking place. Although the group has become smaller because some young people even during the war have tendency to leave small towns in search of education and work opportunities. The young people who are here continue to seek growth and have a sincere desire to draw closer to God.
Tomorrow is Saturday, the day we usually visit children at the orphanage and then have lunch and a group meeting with refugees. While I was away, the meeting was led by our new counselors—people who were once regular members of the group. They have now been trained and have joined our work at the counseling center and in the ministry. I am very proud of them and the growth I see in their lives.
There are also changes at the orphanage. The group of children there is getting smaller, as some have been adopted and others placed in foster care. It is encouraging to see that even during the war, there are families who are willing to care for orphans. We pray that the seeds of the Gospel sown in their young hearts will grow and bear fruit in their lives.
The past few weeks have been relatively quiet in our town, but the enemy has been heavily bombing the coast, and we can still hear the explosions. Odesa remains under constant attack. Over the last two nights, drones have struck residential buildings, destroying apartments and causing serious injuries and loss of life.
We ask you to pray with us for the lives of our soldiers who defend our land, especially for the members of our church—Paul, Ivan, Dima, Vadim, Dr. Anya, and Vasyl. Last week, during our trip, we received a message from Vasyl. He has a long history in this war. He defended Mariupol in the first days of the invasion, where he was captured. He spent almost two years in captivity and was later released in a prisoner exchange. Today, he continues to serve in our marine border unit. He is the commander of a boat that goes out to sea during attacks, working to intercept and destroy enemy drones targeting our town and the coast. Vasyl joined our church over a year ago and began studying to become a counseling psychologist while continuing his military service. He is also part of our counseling center and serves as our military advisor. His involvement is especially important now as we are developing a center for veterans’ recovery.
In his message, Vasyl shared that his brother Serge, who was also serving on the front line, was seriously wounded in battle and lost both legs. He asks for prayer for Serge and gives thanks to God that his brother is alive.
Thank you for standing with us in prayer and for your continued support and encouragement. Your partnership means more than words can express, especially in these challenging times. We are deeply grateful that, though far away, you remain close to us in spirit and in Christ’s love.
Please, send your donations to Pathway Ministries: http://www.pathwayministriesinc.org
In Christ,
Lyuda
P.S. Attached are photos of Vasyl playing the guitar in our church, as well as a photo of his brother Serge receiving a parcel that our church regularly sends to soldiers (Serge is on the right). We have also included photos of the children at the orphanage, Olena—our new counselor—leading a group meeting. and several photos from our meetings in the United States. You will also find two photos of Sergey and me with our daughter and grandchildren at the church in Columbus, Ohio, as well as a photo with Dr. Langston Haygood—our professor, teacher, mentor, pastor, and dear friend.
