Lutsk, Ukraine

Since last April the official death toll of people killed in Ukraine is 5,700 but the German intelligence released a figure recently closer to 50,000! Last Tuesday, the official death toll of Ukrainian soldiers killed in Debaltaseve was 22. The true figure is over 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed. Last Thursday evening I had a meeting with a business man in Lutsk who supplied us with materials when we were building the hall. He told us his nephew of 24 who was serving in the Ukrainian army had been injured when the terrorists were bombing Donetsk airport. The nephew was evacuated and put into the hospital in Debaltaseve. When that town was taken by the Russian backed terrorists on Tuesday they went into the hospital and tortured the soldiers to death. This young man's eyes were taken out and his ribs smashed with a hammer. He died as a result of the pain and his body was returned to Lutsk on Friday last.

Many are also dying on the Russian side. They reckon between 57 and 70 Russian soldiers a day! The dead bodies being carry back to Russia were becoming an embarrassment for Mr. Putin so he introduced mobile crematoriums just to burn the bodies! Many of his soldiers do not want to fight in Ukraine and to make sure there is not a rebellion they are sent to the front line with elite Russian soldiers behind them to shoot them in the back if they rebel.

Some of the worlds press talk about a ceasefire, but all that is happening is a regrouping for a major offensive by Russia in March! Sadly, many in the West are doing little and Mr. Putin is taking advantage of this.

The economy in Ukraine has been devastated due to the war in the East. Factories are closing, people are not being paid and prices have rocketed. All in the assembly are seriously affected but Rhoda and I count it a privilege to help where we can. Most in the assembly have very little. They survive by growing everything they need and selling a little to pay for essentials. Our new website is www.nta.lutsk.ua

Spring 2015

Written by Timothy & Rhoda Sloan - UKRAINE

sloanukraine@hotmail.com