With less news about the fighting in the East it is easy to forget that the war is still happening and that the problems of war are still there, including the many people who are fleeing the areas that are under attack.
A Russian checkpoint in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region has become the only relatively safe way for Ukrainians to try to leave southern occupied areas for Ukrainian-held territory. Hundreds of vehicles lined up, unable to cross.
“Evacuations from the occupied territories is the biggest problem.” People were attempting to leave the occupied territories of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk through the checkpoint at Vasylivka, with some having been on the road for seven days, sleeping in their cars. “Today, more than 5,000 people, over 1,200 cars have gathered there.”
“People can’t even go and buy food for themselves. The only condition under which the Russians allow people to go to buy food in the city is to leave all the documents (passport, driver’s license etc) with them and then collect them after returning.” Of course this creates tremendous stress wondering if they will get their documents returned.
People are seen sleeping in their cars and tents and crowded into a gas station in high summer temperatures. Some people are sleeping in the open.
Please pray for safe evacuations for these families to leave. Also pray for provisions as they wait to leave the check points. Pray for our teams who continue to travel further and further into these areas helping with evacuations and bringing food and aid to these people.
Al Akimoff and the Slavic Ministries Team
