Ira Kapitonova
Truly no man can ransom another,
or give to God the price of his life,
for the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice
Psalm 49:7-8
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"In April 2024, Russia launched over 300 missiles of various types, nearly 300 kamikaze drones, and more than 3,200 guided aerial bombs against Ukrainian civilians," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.”
 
I learned today that the attack on Odesa destroyed not only the logistics terminal but also a greenhouse or a storage facility of one of the largest suppliers of products for agriculture. We bought quite a few plants from them over the last few years, and I was considering purchasing some new flowers from them this year. However, the Russians destroyed more plans.
 
Situations like this one remind you that the war is pretty close to home. And I believe that it's an important truth to remember. That’s why I was inspired by the idea of an Estonian MP who arrived in Kyiv on a bicycle from Tallinn to raise funds for the Ukrainian military and to show that the war is just a bike ride away. Let's not forget how close it is!
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Thank you for your continued prayers for Ukraine, as it becomes more and more a daily routine of bombings, it becomes more urgent to pray fervently that it does not wear them or us down. Please pray!

Al Akimoff and the Slavic Ministries Team

Ira Kapitonova
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God! His holy mountain
Psalm 48:1
Russia keeps terrorising Odesa. Not out of military necessity – it's pure "because I can" reasoning. Tonight, they hit a large logistical terminal of Nova Poshta company. There was information that 13 people were injured in this ballistic attack. Thankfully, all the staff had gone to the shelter.
 
Odesa, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kherson — these cities are being "punished" for their proximity to where Russia can reach with their weapons.
Lord, have mercy!
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Pray for these cities that are on the border perimeter, they are being attacked unrelentlessly. Pray for their protection, pray that the bombs would fail and that the supply of bombs would fail.

Al Akimoff and the Slavic Ministries Team
 
Today's picture – the fire in Odesa after the ballistic missile strike. Photo shared by the Nova Poshta company.

Ira Kapitonova
For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared,
a great king over all the earth.
Psalm 47:2
As you may have noticed, I often write about the effect this war has on children. It breaks my heart to know that their careless childhood has to be marred by cruelty and suffering. However, there is another group I feel as passionate about – it is the elderly. Those whose childhood was ruined by WWII now need to relive the terrors of war in their old age.
 
You may have already seen this picture. Lidia is 98 years old. She lived in Ocheretyne, a village in the Donetsk region. A couple of days ago, Lidia and her son and daughter-in-law left their home in the occupied part of the village to get to the territory under Ukraine's control. At some point, they separated, so Lidia walked more than 10 kilometers (6 miles) by herself, using a cane and stick for support, falling from exhaustion, and resting on the grass. She walked the entire day without food and water under Russian shelling. She walked until she saw Ukrainian soldiers who took her to a safe place.
 
Lidia said she had lost everything; almost the whole village had burned down, and even the trees had been uprooted from all the shelling. Having lived through WWII, 98-year-old Lidia hopes to live to see Ukraine's victory. I've been weeping, looking at Lidia's picture and reading her story. Our Lord is a merciful God, but He will avenge the suffering of this dear woman.
 
The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation. (Exodus 34:6-7)
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There are so many Lidias, many are widows with no one to care for them. Our teams are out there this very day bringing them food, medicines and hope. Please pray for them and pray for the teams.
Al Akimoff and the Slavic Ministries Team
 
Today's picture – the 98-year-old Lidia in a shelter, having walked over 10 km to escape occupation. Photo shared by the National Police of Ukraine.

Ira Kapitonova
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 46:10
I was too tired last night to write an update, especially since the news reports were heartbreaking.
Yesterday, Russia attacked Odesa with a missile that came with a cluster bomb. They hit a popular location – a Health Trail, an alley with sports grounds, children's playgrounds, and jogging tracks that goes along the sea, connecting the two largest beaches. This place is usually busy with pedestrians taking a stroll and enjoying the scenery. Is that a military threat?
They hit this location in the middle of the day, and the cluster bomb was intended to cause more casualties among civilians. As a result of the attack, four people and a dog were killed. Another man died of a stroke caused by the attack. 32 people, including two children and a pregnant woman, were injured. Six people are in intensive care now, and a 4-year-old girl is in critical condition.
I can't think of words to describe my feelings. This missile strike was an intentional, cruel terrorist attack, but it didn't scare us. It's mostly disgust and fury that we feel.
 
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Pray  for this city that has been struck so much, a beautiful city that continues to suffer. Al Akimoff and the Slavic Ministries Team
 
Today's picture – the site of the attack in Odesa. Picture by Reuters / Sergey Smolentsev

Ira Kapitonova
Through you we push down our foes;
through your name we tread down
those who rise up against us.
For not in my bow do I trust,
nor can my sword save me.
But you have saved us from our foes
and have put to shame those who hate us.
Psalm 44:5-7
Last night's attack was aimed at critical infrastructure – power stations and natural gas transit points. Our air defense forces shot down 2/3 of what was launched. Some experts say that Russian attacks have become more elaborate – they don't use as many rockets, but their combinations and timing pose a challenge.
This night seems only slightly different so far – more kamikaze drones and air raids across Ukraine.
 
Meanwhile, the world around us is filled with beauty – blossoming trees, buzzing bees, and colorful flowers. Thank you, God, for giving us these beautiful reminders of your greatness.
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As we enjoy the beauty of our surroundings, can we remember our friends in Ukraine and stop and pray for them this day. Let’s not let up in our prayers, God hears them.      
Al Akimoff and the Slavic Ministries Team

Prayer for the elderly -
When people think of the war, they often think of the East of Ukraine where the fighting continues. However, the villages along the Belarus border were overrun, many houses destroyed and the elderly villagers experienced much trauma at the hands of the Russian army. One elderly woman said, “When the Russians came, they kicked me and stole all my food!"
 
Friends in Ukraine first started serving in this area a few years before the war. A church began to grow but was mostly filled with elderly grandmothers. The team never dreamed they would feel a calling to serve seniors in remote villages, but God partnered them with friends from the Ywam Widow's program and World Challenge, Inc. The little church began to grow, resourced with food care packages for the villager pensioners that receive less than $80 per month from the government. That amount is to cover their food, utilities, medicine. An impossibility in the winter months, where many sacrifice food or heat.
 
Last year the Ywam ministry helped to complete renovations on an old house, which now serves as their church building. It's humble, but it's theirs, and they are very proud of it! A majority of the construction was completed by the grandmothers too! A team of volunteers, host not only regular Sunday services, but have begun networking with other ministries and hosting art therapy, crafts, and even children's programs in their village. Their church has inspired teams from Ywam and other Kyiv churches to bring physical, emotional and spiritual care to surrounding villages up to 2 hours away.
 
Please pray for the team and their community. Pray for continued strength and the finances to continue their ministry.

Al Akimoff and the Slavic Ministries Team

Ira Kapitonova
By this I know that you delight in me:
my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.
But you have upheld me because of my integrity,
and set me in your presence forever.
Psalm 41:11-12
Two stories that are too moving not to share.
An 88-year-old man who left his home in the occupied part of Ukraine and walked across the "division line" until the volunteers picked him up. The man refused to get Russian citizenship, which then made him pack his backpack and seek refuge. He will be taken to a shelter in one of the regions of Ukraine.
 
An elderly couple crossed the border into Ukraine, taking a detour from the occupied part of the Kherson region. The wife is blind, and the husband can hardly walk, but they needed to cross the two-kilometer pedestrian zone at the border. The wife crossed the border first and was picked up by the volunteers, yet she refused to go without her husband. She waited for him, felt his face with her hands to make sure it was him, took his hand, and only then could the volunteers finally bring them in.
 
It is both inspiring and heartbreaking to see what the people from the occupied territories are ready to endure to get to the territory under Ukraine's control.
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Pray for those stranded unwillingly in the occupied zones.

Al Akimoff and the Slavic Ministries Team
 
Today's picture – the elderly couple crossing the border. Photo shared by Sumy regional organization of the Red Cross Society of Ukraine.

Ira Kapitonova
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.
Psalm 40:3
Following the US House vote, there came an encouraging announcement from Great Britain. The UK is to provide the largest military aid package yet — $617 mln worth of boats, missiles (including Storm Shadow), armored vehicles (including HUSKY Tactical Support Vehicle), and small-arms ammunition.
In Slovakia, citizens who are unhappy about the policy of their government towards Ukraine have crowd-funded over €3.6 million to purchase artillery shells for Ukraine. Their initial goal was €250,000, but they saw unprecedented support.
A few days earlier, the Czech Prime Minister gave an update on their initiative to source ammunition for Ukraine and said they could provide Kyiv with 1.5 million artillery shells within a year.
Latvia, a small country that could easily become Russia's next target, is ready to hand over a short-range air defense system to Ukraine.
A few days ago, Ukraine received a batch of M577 Command Post Vehicles as part of military aid from Lithuania. The vehicles are designed to provide radio communications, command, and control of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.
Last week, Germany announced it was ready to transfer another Patriot air defense system to Ukraine immediately.
These are just the most recent reports I could look up. I know there's more. I decided to post it here as a reminder that God’s faithfulness never runs dry. May it encourage many to put their trust in the Lord.

I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love
and your faithfulness from the great congregation.
As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!
Psalm 40:10-11
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The Lord is the deliverer!

Al Akimoff and the Slavic Ministries Team
 
Today's picture – Magnolia blossom in Kyiv. Photo by Serhiy Ristenko.

Russia is destroying Ukrainian churches and torturing priests in the occupied territories
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has destroyed or damaged at least 630 religious buildings. Most of them were destroyed in Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson regions.
It has been documented that some churches and prayer houses were looted by the Russian military, closed or converted into administrative buildings by the occupation authorities.
 
Ukrainian religious leaders continue to be imprisoned, tortured, and killed in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Those who did not agree to collaborate and refused to submit to Russian religious centers are subject to repression.
 
Please pray for believers in Ukraine. Pray for protection and for continued support to their daily needs. 

Al Akimoff and the Slavic Ministries Team

Ira Kapironova
But for you, O Lord, do I wait;
it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
Psalm 38:15
 
I saw a picture today. A child's handwriting in a lined notebook. It was titled "Chronicles of Goodness." Here's what was written below:
"Monday. There was no air raid. The weather was nice and sunny. I went to a music school and sang Ukrainian folk songs there
Tuesday. There was no air raid. I helped mom clean the house after school.
Wednesday. There was no air raid."
When I was reflecting on today, I caught myself thinking it was a good day because there was no air raid. We don't need much to have a good day. Praying for more good days for all of us!
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Can we pray for many more days without air raids. Can we thank God for the release of funds for the air defense systems so that can happen? Thank you for praying!

Al Akimoff and the Slavic Ministries Team
 
Today's picture – a boy's journal in which he records days without an air raid. Photo by Iryna Kosminova.