Christians have been caught up in the politics of frequent clashes in the Ukraine despite a ceasefire being negotiated with Russia, making the situation in Lugansk ‘very hard’, according to Christians in the area.
Protestant churches in eastern regions have been targeted by separatist elements, as they are perceived as pro-European, whilst Ukrainian Orthodox (Moscow Patriarchate) churches have been seized and attacked in western Ukraine.
Frequent clashes have continued since the formal end of fighting. Although Ukraine agreed to withdraw heavy weapons from the frontline, sporadic artillery fire from the Ukrainian armed forces and mortar fire from separatist militants is recorded on a daily basis. Ukrainian soldiers also blockaded roads around Lugansk, but those who were able to flee had already done so, leaving behind the elderly, the sick, families with children and those already displaced.
