Aftermath of Russian missile strikes in Mykolaiv

WORLD

Ukraine Churches rush aid amid deadly Russian strikes

Churches are rushing emergency aid to Ukraine as the state emergency service says at least one person was killed by a Russian strike on the southern city of Mykolaiv overnight as Russian missile strikes continue across the country. Missionaries are also supporting churches to ease the human suffering of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine by providing heat, hope, and millions of meals.

By Stefan J. Bos

People in Kyiv queue for water after Russian missiles hit critical facilities across this wartorn nation. As a result, large parts of the Ukrainian capital have been left without power or water. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said 40 percent of residents are without running water, with 270,000 apartments lacking power as of Monday evening.

Though authorities said Tuesday they managed to restore power for most; more outages are expected as Russia continues hitting the energy grid and other essential infrastructure facilities.

And there is concern that millions of people will face what Christian aid workers call "a brutal and potentially deadly winter." Impoverished Ukrainians in rural areas have reportedly chopped furniture and unused buildings to keep warm.

Listen to the report:

That's why the U.S.-based mission group Slavic Gospel Association launched its so-called 'Ukraine Winter Heat and Hope Project' along with hundreds of churches in Ukraine.

The group says it is rushing generators and supplies of firewood, coal, and thermal blankets to local churches where families can shelter and stay warm for the potentially bitter cold.

It added that blankets and generators would be shipped from Germany and neighboring Poland while firewood and coal would be purchased locally in Ukraine.

Missionaries said local churches working on the frontlines were already involved in delivering seven million meals while sharing the hope of the Gospel message since the war started.

There was also some hope for millions of people having hunger: The United Nations-led center co-ordinating a Black Sea grain export deal says three more vessels carrying grain left Ukrainian ports on Tuesday.

Officials said that earlier on Monday, another 12 ships carrying 354,500 tonnes of food sailed from Ukraine.

The ships managed to leave despite Russia halting its backing for the deal on Saturday, saying Ukraine was using a safety corridor to attack its Black Sea Fleet.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of "blackmailing the world with hunger," a claim Moscow denies.

Ukraine is seen as a breadbasket of the world, and the war has added to concerns about secure food supplies worldwide.

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