Greeting to you!
I would like to share with events from the life of my family for a first quarter 2022.
In a period from 1st of January till 24th of February we did not have any significant events.
I celebrated my 42nd birthday. Then we together had a COVID – if doctors say true, because we did not have any special problems with health. I had strong cough as in time of bronchitis and Valya had high temperature one evening – that is it.
Our life, along with lives of millions people totally changed on 24th of February, when Russia had started a war against Ukraine…
At 6:50AM I woke up and tried to sleep again, but there were a few fighter planes, which swap over our house and then we heard explosions. A radar station in our town was attacked – there were a few rocket attacks.
My children were very afraid, especially my sons. The youngest, Kolya, was just crying, and elder one, Artem, had a panic attack and nerve storm.
It took two hours to calm them down. Then I read news and knew about beginning of war. I went out to take out a cash in ATM-machine, because usually in such situations not all shops give opinion of non-cash payment. I was standing in line for 2,5 hours.
First days public transportation in our town was not working. So, my personal vehicle – load tricycle, which I bought last spring, was a great help for me. There was no bread in town for 2 days. But my wife Valya from the first try could bake bread in frying pan. Then situation changed for best.
Every day there are a few air-raid warnings. Praise God – He has protected our town, after first day all rockets which were directed to our town were shocked down with air defense system. There were three times when rocker fall down to Cherkassy – regional center, but there were no victims.
This war has reminded me events which took place 32 years ago, when I was 10 years old. Then, after decision of government of Soviet Armenian Republic about annexing an autonomous region of Azerbaijan — Nagorny Karabakh, about 1 million of Azerbaijan’s citizens were forced to leave their houses on a territory of Armenia and Nagorny Karabakh and become refugees. After two years, in January 1990 in small town Sumgayit there were pogroms against local Armenians. After that the head of USSR Gorbachov made a decision to bring in military troops into Baku – the capital city of the Azerbaijan. A group of young unarmed people (a few hundred person) gathered to hinder for entrance of troops into Baku city. There were cruelly punished. The tanks were rode over the cars, including emergency cars and people, soldiers were shooting all around and some people dies just because they looked out of windows. I never thought, I will see the similar situation again.
According to statistics of UNO and officials of Ukraine, more then 4 million of citizens of Ukraine have moved abroad, about 7 million of people have left their houses and moved to approximately safety territory in Ukraine.
There are two families of refugees who are living in building of our church.
On 6th of March we have celebrated 1st jubilee of our youngest daughter Bogdana – it was her 5th birthday. It was the first birthday party in our family when we had no cake. In market I found only a big biscuit, and we have fixed a candle in it.
A situation in our town is approximately silent. First there were problems with some food – it was hard to find sugar, tea, salt and buckwheat. There was no lack of other food. In first two weeks prices for some vegetables (a cabbage, a carrot, an onion and a beet) increased in 3-4 times.
We also have to consider the fact, that Ukraine gets main part of fuel from Russia and Belarus. Now, because of war, a fuel is imported with small batches from Europe, so there is not enough amount, prices went up and that was an additional reason for increasing prices for food and other goods.
I almost had no work during these two months.
We have regular church services. A minister, who was acting as pastor, have left Ukraine with his family. So now our main pastor is running the church. He was planning to leave the ministry because of problems with foot. Now he came back and we hope, God will strengthen him for the ministry.
Russian soldier behave lake Nazi in time of 2World War. The are regular bombardments and batters of civil population, living houses, hospitals, schools are being destroyed. In Mariupol city, with population of 400 00 people, because of encirclement which continues for 2 months, people are dying because of hunger, cold and sicknesses. The major part of people were able to move out of the city. For now there are 100 thousands of people are still living in the city. Some people were taken by Russian army into Russia.
8th of April my elder daughter Nadya was riding a skate and seriously injured her hand –there was open fracture of two bones. She was taken to Cherkassy to regional children’s hospital and had a first surgery. She spent there 11 days with my wife Valya. All this time my wife and daughter had an additional problem – they were unable to sleep all night. Almost every night there were 1-2 air-raid warnings. After that all patients had to go down to bomb-proof shelter and stay there until the end of attack. Though there are matrasses and not cold, it does not give opportunity for full rest.
First two days after being back home Nadya slept a lot in daytime. Next week there is planned next surgery, when bone nails would be implanted, for correct bony union. First surgery was free. Next surgery would be chargeable and I don’t know the price yet.
This is the way we live now. I understand that comparing with people who have lost members of their families, their houses and property, I live pretty well. But anyway, war is war.
I really ask you to pray for Ukraine, for soonest end of war and defeat of Russia. Also, please pray for successful surgery and recovery of Nadya.
May God bless abundantly all of you!
Aleksey