Samaritan’s Purse church partners in Ukraine risk their lives to bring physical and spiritual refreshment to their fellow countrymen near the frontlines.
Pastor Yehven and his team risk their lives two or three times a week to deliver water to those in need along Ukraine’s frontlines. For years now, logistical challenges and the constant threat of Russian drones and artillery have prevented people in far eastern Ukraine from easily securing this life-giving resource. But the pastor and his team deliver gallons of hope on each visit while also telling war survivors about the Living Water, Jesus Christ.
On one recent mission of mercy, Pastor Yehven and his team had just started to deliver water when a Russian drone struck near their van. The sudden explosion caused both volunteers and recipients to drop to the ground.
Before they could recover from the shock, a second drone hit the van, tearing apart the rear of the vehicle. Moments later, a third drone erupted nearby.
A Russian drone struck Pastor Yehven’s van, destroying the enclosed water tanks and sending shrapnel into the fuel tank. His team miraculously made it home alive, convinced that God had saved them for a greater purpose.
Shrapnel pierced the fuel tank, but thankfully, did not cause a fire. The team didn’t know whether to attribute this to a miracle of God or the fact that they were carrying large volumes of water in the van. By God’s grace, only a minimal amount of gasoline leaked out so the team had enough fuel to make the return trip even though it continued to slowly drip out the whole way back. In addition, the tires—typically the most vulnerable to attacks—remained intact despite the extensive shrapnel that struck in and around the van.
”We saw death very close—but God was even closer.”
The van’s door, however, was so damaged that it could no longer close, so Pastor Yehven struggled to hold it shut for 28-mile trip back to his church. As the team fled for their lives, they spotted another drone entering the area, but praise God, were spared another attack!
“When we realized we were still alive, I just said, ‘Lord, thank You for helping us. You’re keeping us here for something greater.’ We saw death very close—but God was even closer,” Pastor Yehven said.
Despite this incident, Pastor Yehven and his church continue these treks into threatened and dangerous areas because they want to show the love of Christ to their neighbors.
Something Greater
The pastor and his congregation benefited earlier in the war from Samaritan’s Purse water, sanitation, and hygiene work, so they feel compelled to help others. A team from Samaritan’s Purse drilled a well at their church and installed a reverse osmosis water treatment unit after a nearby dam was destroyed, causing their own water source to fail. We also supplied the congregation with jerry cans, water bottles, individual filters, and Bibles—as well as a financial grant to cover transportation, so they can bring their now abundant water to those even closer to the conflict.
Eastern Ukrainians bring their bottles to be filled with the precious water delivered by Pastor Yehven and his team.
“In many parts of Ukraine, especially near the frontlines, people are struggling to meet even their most basic needs. Access to clean drinking water has been disrupted,” said Vitaly Tupchiienko, Samaritan’s Purse program manager for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in Ukraine. “Rural frontline communities are particularly vulnerable as they rely on fragile supply chains and local businesses to meet their needs. When any one of these elements fails, life in the community becomes a constant struggle.”
While eking out a living without adequate water, residents have been known to tell the delivery team, “We waited for you like God,” or “You are our savior.” But Pastor Yehven always redirects their gaze and says, “Only Christ saves, and I am only helping.” He notes that each of these situations is an opportunity to testify about God and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“When I talk about God, people react differently,” Pastor Yehven said. “Some just remain silent, some allow me to pray or even ask me to pray, and to some I give the Gospel. I pray and ask God to give me opportunities and create situations for evangelism.”
“It is wonderful that there is an opportunity to deliver water; it is very valuable and necessary. But we understand that eternal life is the greatest treasure.”
He continued: “It is wonderful that there is an opportunity to deliver water; it is very valuable and necessary. But we understand that eternal life is the greatest treasure. That Is why I pray constantly that God will allow me to shine, so that when I get out of the car, people immediately see Christ in me. It is my desire that through me, people will experience the presence of God.”
Pastor Yehven finds a range of heart attitudes as he goes closer to the frontlines. Some people are hardened by all they have seen during the war, while others cling even tighter to the Gospel, saying that only reading the Bible brings comfort during such times. The pastor encourages each to pray to God as their Heavenly Father with all their requests.
“If there is no water, ask, and He will give it,” Pastor Yehven says to many.
Thirst No More
Samaritan’s Purse counts it a privilege to be a part of answering some of those prayers as we help in Ukraine in Jesus’ Name.
“Samaritan’s Purse WASH program specifically targets communities that lack water, and we consider it a privilege to empower the church to respond during these critical times,” Tupchiienko said. “The church not only provides access to physical water, but also shares the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Living Water. He is the One who promised that everyone who drinks from Him will never be thirsty again.”
Please pray for a quick resolution to the war in Ukraine and ask that God would strengthen and protect the war-weary population.
