Update from Ukraine: Winter 2025
It’s been almost four winters since the first bombs fell, and for many Ukrainians the journey through the wilderness of war hasn’t ended.
Some found safety across borders; many more moved west within Ukraine, and landed in Uzhhorod (Ужгород)—a refuge on the edge of the country. Life there is safer, but far from simple. Housing is tight, work opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce and everyday costs are on the rise. Through the long months of intense pressure and upheaval, Rock of Salvation Church, led by Edik and Liana Malyshev, has remained a steady presence, humbly fulfilling its role in meeting both material and spiritual needs.
There is no doubt that winter is especially bitter for those displaced by conflict; even so, the hope of the gospel has, and will, strengthen many to carry on through tragedy. As a family of churches, Relational Mission shares this conviction. That’s why we’re partnering in prayer for Rock of Salvation, as well as offering material support by highlighting and partaking in the work of Heart for the Nations to help our brothers and sisters serving the Lord in Ukraine.
Strengthening relationships: Friends from the wider Relational Mission family of churches visiting brothers and sisters from Rock of Salvation Church in Uzhhorod, Ukraine
Help leads to hope
Over the last 3.5 years, the generosity of the wider RM family has contributed towards something wonderfully tangible. Funds raised—first through The Lighthouse Community and now Heart for the Nations—have enabled Rock of Salvation Church to house around 11 families each month and distribute aid packages to 60 families. As funding levels have fluctuated, the team has adapted: in stronger months, they served daily hot meals at the hotel where Liana works; in leaner periods, they reduced the frequency of meals but continued to provide food parcels and pastoral visits.
The hotel where Rock of Salvation has been able to minister to many
Hot meals have been a huge blessing to many displaced Ukrainians
From the start, this ministry has been shaped by prayer and attentiveness to the Holy Spirit. Food parcels and hot meals are Spirit-led responses that meet people where they are; time and again, addressing people’s material needs opens space for conversations that grow into holy community and discipleship. A newly rented hall now gives a steady home for worship and welcome. Around dinner tables, conversations have grown into prayer, Bible studies, and—over time—baptism. Since early 2022, Rock of Salvation has baptised 60 people who came to faith through the church’s outreach to refugees. The Lord is certainly on the move!
Worship: Finding the God of salvation in the midst of affliction
Baptisms: New life is growing in the midst of the devastation!
Taken together, these stories point to a simple truth: faith-filled support sustains faith-filled care, which is precisely what this Winter Appeal aims to secure as we enter 2026.
“In the face of monumental loss and change, the church in Uzhhorod has seen love, joy, peace and salvation take root in many people’s lives, and that’s in large part due to the generosity of Christ’s global Church.”
Let’s stand together this winter
Rock of Salvation’s ministry moves on three simple, practical tracks:
Emergency shelter: When displaced families arrive, the church provides temporary accommodations while longer-term solutions are being found.
Hot meals and food bags: Regular community meals create a warm, friendly space. Food parcels are also vital support for people settling in a new city, especially the elderly, single parents and those without steady employment.
Ongoing pastoral care: Week after week, the team is present for those who need it most. They show up. They listen. They pray. They do it all again.
The gifts received will contribute toward a broader six-month donor appeal (October 2025–March 2026) to stabilise funding for ongoing gospel work. You might also consider a monthly pledge of €100, €250, or €500, or any other amount, which will help the team plan more effectively for this mission.
Food parcels: A lifeline for families, particularly through the winter months
Housing:
“A clean bed and a decent meal shared with new friends have gone a long way toward restoring hope.”
To be transparent about the need: the target is €4,000 per month through to March. That amount will enable the church to, among other things, keep hotel rooms available for emergency arrivals, maintain a consistent rhythm of meals and purchase enough staple foods to stock the parcels. Currently, giving is around €2,000 per month, which has already led to reduced meal provision. Closing the gap will make an immediate, practical difference; put simply, it means more families can sleep safely and eat well.
It’s also important to note that such generosity doesn’t just meet practical needs; it maintains and restores dignity. A clean bed and a decent meal shared with new friends have gone a long way toward restoring hope, and a welcoming church family that knows and cares about you has proven key to repairing hearts. It’s in these kinds of environments where the gospel can be heard and accepted.
Please pray with us
We recognise that prayer is vital to everything God is doing in Ukraine, and more specifically in Uzhhorod.
With that in mind, we invite you to pray for the following points:
Strength and peace for Edik, Liana and their core team
Steady monthly funds so no family is turned away
Space to keep using the new hall for worship and welcome
Open hearts among those receiving meals and parcels
Thank you for every prayer and gift contributed so far. They matter. They really matter. In the face of monumental loss and change, the church in Uzhhorod has seen love, joy, peace and salvation take root in many people’s lives, and that’s in large part due to the generosity of Christ’s global Church. Let’s continue to play our part. Let’s help them keep going through winter with open hands and faith in the hope of more salvation.
Two options to donate:
Gifts are received through Heart for the Nations (Netherlands), or there is a Stewardship route for UK donors who wish to add Gift Aid.
If you need further details, please contact Esther Hurter at Heart for the Nations: esther@heartforthenations.nl.
Give directly To Heart for the Nations (Netherlands):
IBAN: NL45INGB0004649293
Ref. Project Uzhgorod
Give via Stewardship (For UK donors):
Via Stewardship UK to claim gift aid:
Stichting Heart for the Nations (Stewardship)