When war broke out and the Kyiv region was bombed Bruce and Deborah saw there was a huge need to help widows rebuild their houses and prepare them for the winter. They are overseeing Ukrainian construction teams and administrative staff serving widows and at-risk refugees.

The following are five testimonies of widows who’ve had their homes destroyed by the Russian invasion in the Kyiv region. They tell how Mir Ministries is coming alongside and sharing the suffering of those on the fringes of Ukrainian culture.

1. Widow Viktoria Oleksiivna from the village Borodyanka, Kyiv Region

Viktoria Oleksiivna is 51 years old. A rocket exploded in the driveway next to her apartment. Her husband suffered a concussion and they hid in their basement. He tried to leave but Russian soldiers arrived and shot and killed him.

Viktoria has two daughters, one of them is an alcoholic and the other one lives with her boyfriend and doesn’t look after Viktoria. Now she lives with her parents in the village. She has no income now that her husband has died.

Her flat was damaged when the shell exploded and Russian soldiers knocked out the front door. They damaged the inside of the apartment and robbed her. All the windows were blown off their hinges. Link on the story: https://youtu.be/VXJJvFHI5YA

2. Widow Galyna Petrivna from the village Borodyanka, Kyiv Region

Galyna Petrivna is 81 years old. Her husband died 12 years ago. She had three sons but they have all died. Her eldest son died at a young age. The middle son became addicted to drugs after being in the military in 2014 and died. The youngest son also died from drugs. Four years ago her grandson also died from drugs.

Her house was damaged when a shell exploded. The shock wave from the explosion broke glass and blew some windows off their hinges. Link on the story: https://youtu.be/OI6rWl0G1H4

3. Widow Valentyna Volodymyrivna from the village Borodyanka, Kyiv Region

Valentyna Volodymyrivna is 57 years old. In 2017 her husband died. Her son is an alcoholic and not fit to help her in any way. She has a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, but they don’t communicate.

Her house was damaged when a shell exploded nearby. The window frames, which are double-glazed, have been destroyed. Link on the story: https://youtu.be/BBx2mjmj3DU

4. Widow Svitlana Dmytrivna from the village Borodyanka, Kyiv Region

Svitlana Dmytrivna is 73 years old. She lives in an apartment in Borodyanka but is an internally displaced person originally from Berdyansk in eastern Ukraine near the Azov Sea. In 2014 she and her husband fled fighting in eastern Ukraine. In 2020 her husband died of cancer and then in January this year, she fell and fractured her femur. This has left her with a limp. Svitlana’s heart aches for the losses she has suffered.

Svitlana’s flat was damaged by a shell. The explosion blew out all the windows. Russian soldiers knocked out the front doors and destroyed many things inside the apartment. Link on the story: https://youtu.be/g0A4dUG0FV0

5. Widow Valentyna Stepanivna from the village Peremoga, Kyiv Region

Valentyna Stepanivna is 62 years old. In 2017 her husband died. Her son is an alcoholic and not fit to help her in any way. She has a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, but they don’t communicate.

Her house was damaged when a shell exploded nearby. The shock wave ripped out the front door and damaged several windows, blowing some off their hinges. Her fence was also destroyed. Link on the story: https://youtu.be/6BtFOEVd7s0

Ministry Info:

Bruce and Deborah along with their family have been living in Ukraine since 2008. For the past 20 years, they have been involved in business and missional start-ups that focus on mobilizing believers into all cultural spheres.

As Directors of Mir, they are responsible for overseeing our ministries and caring for the leaders who run them. They are both graduates of Christ for the Nations College in Dallas, Texas. Bruce has a Master’s in Global Leadership from Fuller Seminary and Deborah is a certified Spiritual Director.

With eight children and one grandchild, the Crowes are currently splitting their time between Ukraine, Romania, and the United States.

Prayer Request:

Pray for provisions and protection for the widows and remaining residents of Ukraine as they begin rebuilding their homes. Pray that they find peace and refuge through God’s grace.