Questions and answers with Aaron Amstutz, CAM staff member in Ukraine
What has changed in the past year?
Despite intense fighting, the front lines have changed little. Russia has gained slightly more ground. This is mostly achieved by flattening everything with artillery until the Ukrainians need to retreat.
What areas are being targeted?
Larger cities attract more attention and get struck more. Because of its close proximity to Russia, Kharkiv has been hammered with guided bombs in recent months. These bombs can be released from an airplane inside Russia since they have small wings that allow them to glide for a long distance. They are less accurate but more powerful than missiles, resulting in many civilian casualties. Many power plants have been damaged or destroyed in recent months.
Have there been many power outages?
Because of the many missile strikes on power plants, the power goes off several times every day. Although there is less publicity about power outages than at the beginning of the war, the situation is actually worse.
How are Ukrainian people feeling at this point?
Fear of the future has become larger than the fear for one’s safety. Obviously, that depends on where someone lives. In general, people have become calloused to missiles and drones. It’s a part of life now. But the future looks uncertain. What will happen to family members and to one’s church?
People are weary. Weary of change, weary of fear, weary of war. In the first year of the war, there was a strong spirit of “we are going to get through this.” But after almost two and a half years of war, that spirit is less evident.
The war continues to ravage homes and displace people. Our goal is to encourage believers and share the Gospel with unbelievers through food, firewood, rebuilding, and other aid. If you wish to support the work in Ukraine, please click the donate button to give a gift.
