Ukraine (MNN) — As the Ukraine crisis enters its second month, Russian President Vladimir Putin orders 134,500 new conscripts into the army.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says the call-up had nothing to do with the war in Ukraine. However, the British Ministry of Defense said Russian forces “suffering heavy losses have been forced to return to Belarus and Russia to reorganize and resupply.”
Meanwhile, thousands of ordinary Ukrainians – including staff from Trans World Radio’s independent local partner TWR-Ukraine — are doing whatever they can to help their country.
Ask God to protect the man in this photo, TWR-Ukraine’s director. He remains in danger, as he is conscripted to digging trenches by day and returning to the rest of his family in the evening.
(Photo, caption courtesy of TWR-Ukraine)
TWR-Ukraine has “program producers in the country(…) and yet every day, they get programs to us so we can broadcast them to their countrymen,” TWR’s Jon Fugler says.
“It is amazing; these are my heroes. We’re grateful they can do this day after day.”
More Ukraine updates from TWR here.
TWR launches new online radio station
Over four million people have fled Ukraine to shelter in neighboring countries, surpassing the United Nations’ worst-case estimate. “They need encouragement, and they need hope,” Fugler says.
That’s precisely what TWR wants to provide through a brand new initiative. “One of the things we’re getting ready to launch in the next week to 10 days is a 24-hour online radio station,” Fugler says.
“It’s mainly music to provide the encouragement and hope centered in Jesus. We’ve got folks reading Bible verses of encouragement sprinkled in as well.”
Listen to the live stream here.
The ministry is also working on a content hub for Ukrainian and Russian speakers on its TWR360 platform. The hub isn’t finished yet, but when it’s complete, “native speakers can go right there, no matter where they are in the world, and find material – whatever they’re looking for, whatever they need during this time,” Fugler says.
Ask God to give TWR staff His peace and pray they can convey that peace to their listeners. Connect with TWR here if you’d like to support relief efforts in Ukraine.
Header image shows one of the Russian infantry vehicles demobilized by Ukrainian forces in Chernihiv Oblast on Mar. 28, 2022. Russian forces “suffering heavy losses have been forced to return to Belarus and Russia to reorganize and resupply,” according to the British Ministry of Defense. (Wikimedia Commons)
