Ukraine (MNN) — The energy war between Russia and Ukraine leaves civilians on both sides scrambling this winter.
Ukraine has struck at least 21 of Russia’s 38 large oil refineries, leading to fuel shortages. Meanwhile, Russia is targeting Ukraine’s gas infrastructure. Emergency power blackouts have occurred in nearly every region in Ukraine.
Eric Mock with Slavic Gospel Association says a partner in Kyiv sent a desperate message last week about one Russian strike.
“The damage that was done to the electrical facility was so great that the local leaders said, ‘This will not be rebuilt until the war ends,’” Mock reports.
You can imagine what having no light or heat source means for that SGA partner’s household, and others like it.
Heat and Hope outreach provides generators for emergency use (Photo courtesy of Slavic Gospel Association)
“Last year it was a temperate winter. But this year, we’re hearing that it’s going to turn cold, and it already has become much colder,” Mock says.
SGA sends resources through an outreach they call Heat and Hope in order to equip local Christians for ministry. To provide generators, they partner with a group called Sunset Solutions. The emergency equipment goes even as far as the front lines of the war — but always through local churches.
“All the food we send over, everything we send over for winter warmth, all of that goes through the local church. Why? [So] that people that are in need would hear — hear from Christians who are showing them love and grace, even in their own fear — of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” says Mock.
Find your place in the story. Learn more about past Heat and Hope outreaches and how to partner with SGA’s work in 2025 on their website.
“Imagine the people in Ukraine where a light switch doesn’t work, nor a thermostat doesn’t work, who may sleep through the night when it’s 25 degrees in the house, who may have to burn a candle as their only source of light, or use the the light on their cell phone through a soda bottle to generate light to live by, to even read their Bibles by and to stay in touch,” says Mock.
“Life for them is very difficult. It’s in such time[s] that God’s people gather together to take care of one another.”
Header image: Ukraine, Kyiv (Photo courtesy of Алесь Усцінаў via Pexels)
