After visiting Kharkiv, I traveled south through Dnipro to Zaporizhzhia City to meet with Bishop Sergey Gashchenko, leader of the Union of Churches, a Pentecostal/Charismatic denomination.

I attended a service at his Source of Life Church, where he preached. The city lies about 25 miles from the front lines. While Zaporizhzhia City remains under Ukrainian control, the majority of Zaporizhzhia Oblast is held by Russian forces. 

The video makes it clear that the city is far from destroyed. What’s undeniable, however, is the immense danger evangelicals face under Russian occupation—and the church’s heroic efforts to help displaced believers escape. Bishop Gashchenko oversees dozens of Pentecostal and Charismatic churches that provide food, aid, and spiritual care, often risking their lives to defend their religious freedom. For more go to: https://www.theoeco.org/blog/kharkiv-to-zaporizhzhia-pentecostalcharismatic-churches 

I also met Pastor Karina Medvied of Yahum Church, a young, vibrant Charismatic leader. Karina supports actions against Moscow-aligned Orthodox clergy, citing their political loyalties and interference in Ukraine’s independence. She emphasized that Ukrainians wishing to stay within Orthodoxy should join the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which respects both traditional practices and Ukrainian sovereignty. For more go to: https://www.theoeco.org/blog/a-lady-evangelical-pastor-near-ukraines-front-lines-in-zaporizhzhia 

Through leaders like Bishop Gashchenko and Pastor Karina, Zaporizhzhia’s churches embody extraordinary courage, compassion, and conviction in a time of great trial.

​In early 2023, I filmed a segment for Back to Bucha featuring charismatic/Pentecostal Pastor Oleg Regetsiy of the Church of the Glory of the Lord in Lviv.

At the time, he was conducting an online service with his displaced congregation, many of whom had fled Kharkiv in the early days of the war. While Oleg and his family have since returned to Kharkiv, most of his congregation has not.

In the video below, we see a Wednesday evening Bible study with Oleg’s family and a few parishioners. They translated the service into English for me, though they generally speak Russian, as Kharkiv is predominantly Russian-speaking. The gathering included scripture reading, discussion, and prayer.

Despite the ongoing threat of missiles and drones, Kharkiv is far from destroyed. The city boasts the nicest grocery store I've ever seen and a dazzling mall. Sirens are constant, but so are cafés, stores, and resilient people, many of whom never left, even during heavy fighting in 2022.

Kharkiv, like Bucha, is a story of victory. Ukrainian forces successfully pushed the Russians out in May 2022, and life, along with religious and other freedoms one expects from European democracies, persists—something Moscow’s autocrat can’t tolerate.

​I guess he’ll just have to get used to it.

In Irpin, we visit the thriving Irpin Bible Church, led by Pastor Mykola Romaniuk. 

This dynamic, modern Baptist congregation is filled with families, refugees, and an evangelical spirit that has led to the baptism of more than 130 souls since the war began. The church’s story took a dramatic turn in February 2022, when Russia invaded from the north. Russian forces shelled the area from occupied Bucha as they attempted to advance on Kyiv. They came close—but were ultimately halted in Irpin and forced to retreat.

The attached short video briefly captures a typical Sunday service, as well as an interview with Pastor Romaniuk including a dismantling of the disinformation that Ukraine persecutes Christians. In the he also shares how faith, hope, service, and fellowship help sustain the faithful through wartime, and can actually strengthen both the church and its members. For more about the church and pastor check out: Irpin Bible Church – Irpin, Ukraine.

Pastor Mykola Romaniuk

Introduction

​Beyond Bucha is a journey through the evangelical heart of Ukraine—part documentary, part travelogue, and wholly focused on faith under fire.

Shot across eastern and southern Ukraine in September and October 2024, this third film in the series visits both familiar places from Back to Bucha—like Kyiv, Bucha, and Irpin—and new front-line cities such as Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa.

While the Sunday services, evangelical pastors, and worship bands resemble evangelical gatherings throughout America, what makes them profoundly poignant is that they can only happen in free Ukraine. In territories under Russian occupation, such gatherings are banned. Evangelical pastors are arrested. Churches are closed or repurposed. Faith, in these zones, becomes a crime.

​A central aim of Beyond Bucha is to expose the existential threat Ukrainian evangelicals face if Russia is allowed to continue its war unchecked. While some voices in the West—like Tucker Carlson—have falsely suggested Ukraine persecutes Christians, the reality is the opposite: in Russian-occupied areas, evangelicals are targeted and violently suppressed. The film seeks to correct this misinformation and call fellow believers in the U.S.—including members of Congress who claim Christian values—to stand with Ukrainian Christians whose churches, ministries, and very lives are at risk.

Chapter 1: Bucha

In Bucha, we revisit familiar faces, including Julia, the café owner featured in Back to Bucha. Her story of returning to rebuild in 2022 was powerful enough—but now, in 2024, she’s opening another spot: Jul’s Coffee and Cocktails. She offers duck breast and tiramisu alongside espresso and faith, not for profit but to restore her city’s economy. A petite cross around her neck reflects a deeper conviction—her belief in God, her country, and Bucha’s future. Hers is just one example of what could be called “faith-based capitalism,” alive and well across Ukraine. For a deeper dive since the initial destruction of her coffee shop in February 2022, check out Back to Bucha (Again) and Insights from Ukraine’s Faith-Based Capitalism.

​At Bethany Baptist Church in Bucha, we meet Pastor Oleksandr Kulbych, a fourth-generation preacher whose great-grandfather was imprisoned during the Soviet era. His congregation still bears the scars of Russian occupation—some members were killed, others are now on the front lines, and PTSD is widespread. Yet the church persists. For more from this Baptist leader check out Bethany Baptist Church - Bucha, Ukraine.

The world premiere of Beyond Bucha: Finding the Spirit in Ukraine, from the Churches to the Front was held on March 2nd to a packed house at in Jamestown, RI.

A huge thanks to the Jamestown Ukraine Relief Project (JURP) and the Friends of the Jamestown Library for sponsoring the premiere screening, which took place just days after the three-year anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Bear Witness’ Alex Gamota, the film’s executive producer, was also on hand and gave a ringing endorsement of the three-film project, highlighting his organization’s support from the very beginning in March 2022.

​I was on hand to lead the Q&A afterward, which featured a live feed from Odesa with Sasha Pinchuk and his family, who had many friends in the audience. John Andrews, head of JURP, introduced the film and shared this review:

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

As with all our screenings, which double as fundraisers for Ukraine, I was also happy to help raise funds for JURP’s work in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the war, JURP has raised tens of thousands of dollars for Ukrainian causes.
We are making the film available in the coming weeks for everyone to watch and share. Just visit the event page for a link to the film, pictures from the event, and more information.

The film continues to evolve as we edit and create additional versions. It is already available in two forms: the 75-minute director’s cut, which we screened at the event, and a new 57-minute version available online.

Our impact campaign is in the works as we plan a screening tour across the U.S. and Ukraine for the rest of the year.

​Want to help? Arrange a screening—either in person or virtually. For more information on hosting a screening for your group, click here.

For more information please go to the event page at theoeco.org/beyondbuchajamestown.html.

Fr. Theodore Orobets in front of the Wall of Memories at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in Odesa.

By Steve Richards

One of the purposes of Beyond Bucha is to document some of the ongoing Russian bombardment of Ukraine’s religious sites.

None is more infamous than the Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa, making the city a high priority on my list of places to visit during the production tour last fall.

But my visit yielded much more than expected, including an interview with Fr. Theodore Orobets at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ—a much smaller cathedral of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, more than two centuries old. Little did I know that just a month later, on November 15th, this very cathedral would be struck by a Russian missile.

Report on the bombing of the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in Odesa -
November 2024

The interview began with my intrepid translator and cameraman, Sasha Pinchuk, in front of the church with Fr. Orobets at the Wall of Memories. The first section of this memorial honors Odesa’s heroes who died before 2022 in the fighting that began in 2014. This year, the wall was extended to continue their memory following the full-scale invasion nearly three years ago. Fr. Orobets has personally buried close to 40 heroes. Since the war began, 512 soldiers from Odesa alone have lost their lives.

Fr. Orobets, a priest of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, has served here for nearly 25 years. In the interview, he explains that Ukraine has two types of Orthodox churches: one that is Ukrainian and another that follows Moscow. His church was never part of the Moscow Patriarchate.

He goes on to explain that because of the war, more people are coming to pray at his church—especially since most of those fighting for Ukraine now turn to Ukrainian churches. This is particularly evident in Odesa, where there are only six churches under the Ukrainian Patriarchate, compared to 60–70 under Moscow’s Patriarchate.

When asked about his relationship with Moscow-affiliated priests, he says he considers them brothers who have lost their way and that the Ukrainian church is waiting for them to return.

Fr. Orobets and Richards at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ -  Odesa - October 2024
Photo by Viktoriia Pinchuk

When asked if he had ever experienced persecution at the hands of the Ukrainian government, he firmly stated that there is no persecution of Christians in Ukraine. He explained that Ukraine has many religious organizations that operate freely and that those not connected to Moscow face no issues. However, the Moscow Patriarchate, under Patriarch Kirill, supports Russian aggression, and if priests break the law by supporting the war, they must be held accountable under Ukrainian law. He prays that God will give wisdom to the Ukrainian government so that Russia cannot use the church to influence Ukraine. He also emphasizes that the Ukrainian government is fair to priests of all religions and that priests of the Ukrainian Church oppose the way Russia uses the church as a cover for its actions against Ukraine.

We also discussed the war’s effects on him and his parish. He explained that, at one point, people thought they could get used to the explosions and stress—but that is simply not true. It is impossible. The fear is constant because no one ever knows where the next strike will land. Just the day before our interview on October 11th, five people died in Odesa from missile strikes. The day of the interview, four more. Many others were in the hospital, fighting for their lives. They were just civilians, living in their own homes.

On a personal level, he shared that every time there is an air raid alert, the first thing they do is pray—especially at night. He has a wife and four children, and, he noted, the little ones are always the first to pray. He added that they know their true defender is not just the Ukrainian forces, but God.

By Steve Richards

The biggest reason I came here to shoot this film was to dispel the misconception that Christians are being persecuted in Ukraine.

Hopefully, the film achieves that, as this idea is simply not true. ​Some Russian Orthodox priests have been arrested, but these individuals have acted as mouthpieces for and supporters of Russia. Increasingly, only patriots are welcome members of Ukraine’s clergy. Yet even now, the Russian Church carries on as Ukrainian Orthodox followers find it difficult to move out of their comfort zones.

My evangelical roots, having grown up in the Nazarene Church, give me a deep connection with evangelicals, even as I now lean more toward mainline Christianity as an Episcopalian. Though my faith journey has evolved, I have never strayed far from my roots and frequently visit Pentecostal, Baptist, and non-denominational churches across the U.S. The majority of my mailing list and followers come from these evangelical communities.

While Beyond Bucha certainly focuses on documenting the diversity of evangelical churches in Ukraine, it also captures the backdrop of the cities where I filmed: Kyiv, Bucha, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, and Vinnytsia during the 2023-2024 holiday season and again in the fall of 2024. If viewers are interested in the realities of life in cities near the front lines, they will certainly find that—especially as they hear mostly English-speaking interviewees discuss their experiences, the histories of their churches, and the challenges they face, including the shortage of men and the profound impact of PTSD on nearly everyone. Their experiences in the war and the effects on their congregations are central to the stories.

When one realizes that these evangelicals are literally fighting for their lives, their parishioners’ lives, and the survival of their churches—all of which are under existential threat from Russia—the footage and interviews with pastors will feel remarkably familiar to Christians in the U.S. Yet, their situation is vastly different. These churches and pastors are on Russian kill lists, just as the hundreds of churches, pastors, and believers in occupied territories of Ukraine have been targeted—where churches are shuttered, services have gone underground under threat from Russian invaders, and pastors have been killed. This reality must remain front and center while watching the film. In the U.S., we take our religious freedoms for granted. In Ukraine, they fight for theirs. They see themselves in a very real religious war, and they remember what life was like under Soviet domination—many would rather die than go back.

I am deeply indebted to the pastors and those who helped me find these extraordinary churches, secure access, and conduct interviews. Evangelicals and Protestants are a small minority in Ukraine, yet it is not uncommon to find third- and fourth-generation pastors. Baptists are well represented, as are Pentecostals, Charismatics, and non-denominational Christians. Mainline denominations are similarly hard to find, with representation from Lutherans, the Reformed tradition, and even Presbyterians. Anglicans are extremely rare in this country, where the evolving Orthodox Church dominates. Greek Catholics are common, and Roman Catholic churches can also be found.

As I reflect on what Beyond Bucha is about—or perhaps more importantly, why I made it—at the very least, we are chronicling events in Ukraine over several years, and we will continue to do so. Ideally, I can provide an effective platform to foster empathy among evangelicals in the United States for their brothers and sisters throughout Ukraine. By increasing their understanding, I hope they will begin to support Ukraine just a little more and dispel the misinformation that taints their perceptions of people they should whole-heartedly embrace. All while crafting a film that entertains and connects with secular audiences worldwide.

By Steve Richards

Pastor Anton Kalyuzhny leads New Life Church, one of the largest non-denominational churches in Ukraine, founded shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

​Situated at the heart of Kyiv’s evangelical community, Pastor Anton is a passionate leader in a country where the Orthodox Church predominates. He brings deep experience in how the church has engaged with Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia, with involvement dating back to the Revolution of Dignity, where he served as a pastor in Maidan Square during its bloodiest days in 2014.

During an hour-long interview following the Sunday service on October 20th (a 12-minute edited video is attached), Pastor Anton shared powerful insights and issued a heartfelt plea to conservatives and evangelicals in the West. He urged them to rise above disinformation that distorts their perceptions of Ukrainians, particularly evangelicals, who are striving to keep their churches alive and free from the repression seen in Russian-occupied territories, where hundreds of churches have been forcibly shuttered.

Reflecting on how the war has reshaped faith and ministry in his church, Pastor Anton explained that war demands a confrontation with pain and evil. For believers, this means learning to lament while recognizing God’s shared sorrow. He says, “When you are in a war, you cannot run away from pain and evil. You need to learn how to lament…and see that He's crying with us.”

He also emphasized the stakes for future generations, stating that Ukraine must not be lost—it must be preserved for the next generation. He described Ukraine as the most blood-soaked land of the past 150 years, having endured World War I, World War II, the Russian Revolution, the Holodomor, Soviet oppression, and more. This history, he noted, has fostered a mentality of resilience and sacrifice. Unlike Americans, who have never experienced the loss of freedom, Ukrainians understand the agony of living under Soviet domination, which many consider worse than death.

When asked whether he ever feels persecuted, Pastor Anton laughed at the notion, asserting that Christians in Ukraine enjoy more freedom than those in the U.S. He explained that Ukrainian Christians can openly share their faith in schools, public gatherings, and on any platform without restriction. He says, “We can talk about our faith in school. We can talk in any gathering in a city. We can talk and pray. We have absolute freedom.”

Pastor Anton also addressed claims that the Russian Orthodox Church is being persecuted, describing it instead as a tool of Russia’s war strategy. He alleged that the church has been weaponized as part of a vast network of propaganda and espionage, with examples of Russian soldiers hiding in churches and Orthodox priests directing artillery fire. He stressed that the Ukrainian government is not attacking the Russian Orthodox Church but simply requiring that local Ukrainian churches not be headquartered in Moscow. This, he explained, is not about religious repression but about preventing exploitation by Russia.

Ukrainians, Pastor Anton explained, were prepared for the war long before 2022. Since 2014, they have learned to think clearly, remain calm amid sirens, explosions and blackouts, and keep moving forward. Something akin to the English slogan from the Blitz in WW II: “Keep Calm and Carry On”.

However, Pastor Anton expressed deep frustration over the misunderstandings between Ukrainian evangelicals and their counterparts in the U.S. He noted that most Ukrainians are staunchly conservative, yet they are often mislabeled as liberals or socialists by American conservatives. He highlighted the role of propaganda and the influence of conservative media figures, whose stance on Ukraine he described as far removed from the realities on the ground. Pastor Anton urged evangelical believers in the U.S. to listen to their Ukrainian counterparts rather than relying solely on conservative media narratives.

​Finally, Pastor Anton underscored the harsh realities faced by evangelicals under Russian occupation. He noted that when Russian forces take over, one of their first actions is to close evangelical churches. Hundreds of churches have been shut down, and pastors have been killed. Despite these severe challenges, Ukrainian evangelicals remain connected to their oppressed counterparts, bearing witness to their suffering. Pastor Anton lamented that many in the West continue to prioritize voices like Tucker Carlson over hearing directly from Ukrainian believers, describing this as a profound betrayal that feels like “a knife in our hearts.”

By Steve Richards

My visit to Zaporizhzhia this past October opened my eyes to perspectives I hadn’t expected from the evangelicals there.

Not only are they fighting for their religious freedoms, but they also believe they have more religious freedom than we do in America. At first, this seemed difficult to grasp. But after my interview with Bishop Gashchenko at his Source of Life Church—now edited down to 12 minutes—you may find yourself rethinking this claim as well. I’m still processing his perspective, but I can’t deny that the Bishop makes several compelling points that are difficult to refute.I’ve recently returned from a five-week tour of evangelical churches in September and October 2025, during which I attended services at Baptist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, and non-denominational churches. These gatherings felt remarkably similar to those here in the U.S. In contrast to my earlier documentaries, where I focused on Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox churches in Lviv, Kyiv, and Bucha, this time I turned my attention to the Protestant minority. My journey took me to evangelical communities in Kyiv, Bucha, Irpin, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia, where I interviewed pastors whose insights will be featured in our upcoming documentary, Beyond Bucha, set for release in March 2025, to commemorate the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Bishop Gashchenko laid out his case noting that his church was never forced to close during the COVID-19 pandemic, unlike many churches in the U.S. that were shut down under government mandates. He also highlighted that prayer in public spaces, including schools, is normative in Ukraine—a stark contrast to the U.S.

Perhaps most striking in our conversation were the harrowing stories of life for evangelicals in Zaporizhzhia, especially those trapped in territories now occupied by Russia. These areas have become battlefields—not just militarily but also spiritually—as Russia wages war on evangelicals in occupied Ukraine. Despite these dangers, the efforts to help members escape to safety continue.

Bishop Gashchenko represents dozens of churches following Pentecostal and Charismatic streams of the Holy Spirit, as vividly captured in the accompanying video. What is equally clear is the incredible sacrifices these believers are willing to make to preserve their freedoms, even to the point of laying down their very lives if necessary.

In the end, whether Ukraine truly offers more religious freedom than the U.S. can be debated. What cannot be questioned is their deep appreciation for these freedoms—and the extraordinary lengths they go to protect them.

By Steve Richards

On the bus to Zaporizhzhia from Dnipro this past October, I was struck by the city’s infrastructure as we got near the city.

​Massive dams and bridges dominated the landscape, along with modern condos and businesses. This city, approximately 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the Russian border and 30-50 kilometers (19-31 miles) from the nearest front-line areas, is far from devastated though is deeply affected by the ongoing war. The proximity to active combat zones is underscored by recent glide bomb attacks this this past week that killed at least 13 and injured dozens. (Source: NYT).

I was visiting as part of a five-week tour of Ukraine for my new documentary Beyond Bucha – Finding the Spirit in Ukraine from the Churches to the Front. My goal is to document the state of evangelical communities throughout Ukraine, particularly those near the front lines. In this case, I was meeting with the Source of Life Church and its pastor-bishop, part of the Pentecostal/Charismatic churches. This church, under the bishop’s leadership, focuses on aiding those near and behind enemy lines and helping them to safety. They distribute food, provide aid and transportation, and support displaced individuals from occupied territories. Acknowledging the ongoing trauma of war, the church also offers spaces for soldiers suffering from PTSD, including spaces conducted without loud music, creating a safe and respectful environment.

As it turned out, the translator for my interview was a rare and inspiring figure herself: Pastor Karina Medvied of Yahum Church in Zaporizhzhia City. Karina is a Charismatic minister with a distinct Ukrainian flavor to her excellent English.

Her faith journey began at age 17 when she embraced Christianity despite coming from a non-religious family. She later met her husband in church. Today, Karina is a spiritual mother to her congregation, which meets in a condo basement and conducts street ministries to reach the broader community.

Insights into the Orthodox Church
Pastor Karina shared unique perspectives on the arrest of Orthodox priests accused of backing Russian forces. She supports these actions, believing that many Moscow-oriented clergy neglect the needs of patriotic Ukrainians and instead wait passively for Russian control. She pointed to pro-Russian pamphlets and magazines often found in these churches, which she says have also facilitated fraudulent election efforts in Zaporizhzhia and other oblasts Russia seeks to annex. Such activities undermine Ukraine’s independence.

Nonetheless, Karina acknowledges that many people continue attending Russian-affiliated churches. Nostalgia for the Soviet era, when food and basic necessities were cheaper, often drives this loyalty, even as people overlook the hardships of the past and present.

Karina believes that if people want to remain within Orthodoxy, they should join the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty while maintaining traditional liturgies, vestments, icons, and even many priests and churches that have distanced themselves from Moscow in recent years.

​A Ministry of Healing
Karina emphasizes the importance of moving beyond past suffering to focus on building a better future through a ministry of care and healing in Christ. Her church works tirelessly to aid those in need, including feeding and assisting people from occupied territories, offering spiritual guidance, and fostering hope amidst the madness.
She also expressed deep gratitude to Americans for their support, which has been essential to her church’s mission and efforts.
An interview with the bishop who oversees Pastor Karina’s church will follow soon.