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.