PASTOR FROM DONETSK COMPOSES LIST OF CHURCHES SEIZED BY TERRORISTS, SPECIFICALLY FOR FANS OF PUTIN
RISU, 2 January 2015
For Ukrainian admirers of Putin and supporters of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), protestant Pastor Sergei Kosiak composed a list of objects that terrorists destroyed or seized within the community of evangelical Christians during 2014. The pastor posted this list on his Facebook page.
"I know several 'believers' who support the DPR and sacredly believe in 'the savior Putin,'" he writes. "Previously I carefully tracked terror against evangelical churches on the part of the DPR, but then they became so many that I stopped tracking, but I decided to recall several incidents from memory; perhaps there are a few inaccuracies, but that does not change the essence of the whole picture. And so, for all 'believing Christians' who are fans of Putin, and simply for the information about what kind of spirit the supporters of DPR and their admirers have."
List of captured buildings and meetings broken up:
1. May:
a) Gorlovka: the "Church of Christ," church building seized, a former kindergarten. All property removed, office equipment stolen. The building serves as headquarters of DPR.
b) Snezhnoe: Church "City of Faith." Service broken up and building sealed.
c) Donetsk: Rehabilitation center "Evening Light." 29 persons taken captive; some were beaten. Building sealed and microbus stolen.
2. June:
a) Torez: Church "Word of Life." Militants with chevrons "Cossack Guard" broke up service and sealed building. They promised to shoot everybody if they assembled again.
b) Donetsk: Rehabilitation center "Rock of Salvation." Building seized, where they housed their mercenaries and made a barracks out of it.
c) On 15 June armed militants ransacked the premises of the office of the evangelical church "New Generation" in the city of Gorlovka, Donetsk province. Computers and other office equipment were taken from the office, along with charter documents of the charity foundation of the church.
On 16 June, armed representatives of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic seized that building of the church "Word of Life" of the city of Gorlovka.
d) Donetsk: The Donetsk Christian University. Militants seized the entire complex and now several hundred fighters are housed there.
e) Terrorist took pastor of a church Nikolai Kalinichenko captive, who later was released after they hijacked his car. "Terrorists also announced to the pastor that if he continues to engage in religious activity, then he will be shot." Later news media reported that the building of the church "Word of Life" in Shakhtersk was being used by militants of DPR for housing men aged 20 to 40 for the purpose of impressing them into the ranks of fighters.
f) On 26 June militants broke into the premises of the evangelical "Church of Victors" of the city of Druzhkovka, Donetsk province, and transported Pastor Pavel Lesko and his wife to their headquarters. "Armed militants stole money and documents from a safe and the office computer, and they transported the pastor and his wife to the headquarters of the militants, which is based in a building not far from the Druzhkovsk city council," a church employee reported. The pastor and his wife were held captive in different rooms, and they were accused of cooperating with Americans and giving aid to displaced persons from the Donbass provided by the church. After almost a week of detention, the church ministers were released.
3. August:
a) Donetsk: "Word of Life Center." Service broken up and the entire church complex was seized.
b) Elenovka. Service broken up and the church building and home of the pastor of the church were seized.
c) Gorlovka. "Church of Seventh-Day Adventists." Pastor of the church arrested and service broken up.
4. September:
a) Donetsk. "Church of Christ the Savior." Church building seized along with the minister's car. Service broken up and forbidden to assemble.
b) Rovenki. Church "Word of Life." Building seized and service broken up.
And in addition, dozens of employees and pastors of churches were arrested and tortured.
Eternal memory to the brothers from Slaviansk, Luhansk, and Mariupol who were killed by militants.
Shame on all those who pray for Putin and who support the satanic idea of "Novorossia." (tr. by PDS, posted 5 January 2015)
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