European Baptist Federation has received a press release from the Donetsk Christian University in Ukraine, informing us about the development in the war situation.

Oleksii Melnychuk, the president of Donetsk Christian University, Ukraine, writes:

Since Slavyansk, Kramatorsk and other cities north of Donetsk have been freed from pro-Russian separatists, Donetsk has become the stronghold of the separatist bands of armed soldiers in the region.

A group of approximately 2,000 armed soldiers entered the city of Donetsk and have occupied the dormitories of universities, schools and hotels.

On July 9 a group of armed individuals from the separatist pro-Russian group, named “Oplot”, came to Donetsk Christian University (hereafter known as DCU) and demanded that we vacate the university’s student dormitory for their use. By the end of the day they brought a written directive from the their leader stating that they are taking possession DCU building(s) for temporary use to be given back to DCU when the war ends.

We have been advised that disagreement with their demands will be severely punished. Although DCU leadership explained that the university is a religious organisation and that its property should not be used for war purposes, the argument did not help.

Staff members and all students have been evacuated. The Ukrainian government issued special instructions on how to avoid provoking terrorists to kill or imprison people that our staff has tried to follow.

Taras Dyatlik, director of Educational Development Department comments: “The separatists promised to turn Donetsk into the second Stalingrad, what they so far, unfortunately, have successfully doing. Thousands people are leaving Donetsk every day because of the war. All workers and faculty members had to flee from the campus leaving most of their belongings at Donetsk Christian University, which has one of the best Protestant theological libraries in the former Soviet Union.”

Donetsk Christian University values everyone’s prayers in this military conflict.

Photos: Donetsk Christian University