76. Serving God Under Siege in Ukraine

About this episode

Valentyn and Liuba Siniy discuss the impact of Russia's invasion on church life in Ukraine and share personal experiences of faith amidst adversity.

In this episode of God on the Move, Valentyn and Liuba Siniy share how Russia’s full-scale invasion has reshaped church life in Ukraine, from early surges of seekers asking “Where is God?” to ongoing fatigue, trauma, and uneven realities between frontline and distant regions. Valentyn, a pastor and seminary leader displaced from Kherson, describes churches near the front as crowded yet under-resourced, growing needs in women’s ministry, chaplaincy, and trauma healing, and increased cooperation among Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical communities. He explains that persecution of evangelicals is most evident in Russian-occupied territories, recounting arrests of Christians, and rejects claims of widespread persecution in free Ukraine. Valentyn introduces his memoir Serving God Under Siege (Ukrainian title: A Man Whose Home Was Stolen), reflecting on evacuation, loss, theological testing, lament, and seeing God’s “hands” through others, and he asks for prayer for a just peace and national restoration. 📚 Links from the Interview Book: Serving God Under Siege Episode 48: Faith on the Front Line: Testimonies From Eastern Ukraine Tavriski Christian Institute 🧑‍💻 About Valentyn…

People in this episode

Guests: Valentyn Siniy, Liuba Siniy

Topics covered

• church life in Ukraine
• impact of war on faith
• evangelical persecution
• trauma healing
• interfaith cooperation
• women's ministry
• national restoration

Keywords

• Ukraine
• church
• war
• faith
• persecution
• trauma
• evangelical
• interfaith
• women's ministry
• memoir

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Lausanne Movement

Books & works: Serving God Under Siege

Places: Ukraine, Kherson, Russian-occupied territories, Christ the Savior Church, Eastern Ukraine

More episodes of God on the Move Podcast

• 82. Hope Made Strong: Bridging Mental Health, Church, and Social Work · June 1, 2026 · 45 min
• 81. Lebanon: The Gateway of the Gospel in the Middle East · May 18, 2026 · 36 min
• 80. Resilience in Madagascar: A Quest for Transformation · May 4, 2026 · 45 min
• 79. From Slum to CEO: A Journey With Dawn for the Poor in the Philippines · April 20, 2026 · 34 min
• 78. 500k: The Mission to Plant a Church in Every Village in India · April 6, 2026 · 45 min
• 77. The Essence of Relational Peace: A Journey in Faith, Education and Community · March 23, 2026 · 39 min