On the fourth anniversary of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, TBN UA hosted an exclusive premiere in Ukrainian of the documentary “Faith under Siege” about the persecution of Christians during the war.
The documentary “A Faith Under Siege” opens a page of the Russian-Ukrainian war that is little known to the Western world — the systematic persecution of evangelical Christians in the occupied territories of Ukraine. The film takes the viewer directly to the epicenter of events, where pastors, missionaries and volunteers continue to serve even under the threat of arrest and death.
Russia’s full-scale aggression dealt a crushing blow not only to the military and civilians, but also to believers who refused to obey the demands of the occupation authorities. The authors of the film aim to show the real state of religious freedom in the zones controlled by Russia and debunk the information myths that are spread around this topic.
The film’s executive producer, Colby Barrett, emphasizes that there is an overabundance of propaganda around the events in Ukraine today, so the team sought to give the floor to those who personally experienced persecution because of their faith. It was their testimonies that became the heart of the film.
The plot focuses on the real stories of pastors and believers who were kidnapped, tortured, thrown into prisons or forced to leave their homes. Many of them stayed in dangerous regions to help people: deliver humanitarian aid, support with prayer and words of hope. After the establishment of the occupation authorities, it was the evangelical communities that were often among the first targets.
The film suggests that those Christians whose loyalty belongs not to political leaders, but to Christ, pose a particular threat to the Russian authorities. In a system that seeks absolute control, an independent spiritual position is perceived as a challenge.
Russian propaganda declares the protection of “traditional values”, but in practice, it is the Protestant communities — Baptists, Pentecostals, and Seventh-day Adventists — that are under pressure. The film documents the facts of searches in churches, confiscation of property, closure of churches, illegal arrests and trumped-up accusations of “espionage” or “extremism”.
In particular, in Melitopol, the Church of the Grace of God was seized and converted into a facility for propaganda events. In Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Kherson regions, ministers went missing or became victims of persecution.
A separate line of the film is the story of a former soldier from the “Green Berets” unit – Christian Hickey, who arrived in Ukraine as a missionary. Together with the team, he handed over thousands of audio Bibles to the Ukrainian military and civilians. According to him, the ability to listen to the Holy Scriptures in the trenches or shelters becomes a source of inner strength for many.
The authors also draw attention to the position of Patriarch Kirill, who publicly supported the Russian invasion. The film raises the issue of moral responsibility of religious leaders, who actually legitimize aggression.
Stephen Moore, founder of the Ukraine FreedomProject initiative, actively participated in the promotion of the film. Together with his team, he held dozens of meetings with members of the US Congress to convey information about the repression of Ukrainian protesters.
According to Viktor Yelenskyi, head of the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, at least 40 Christian ministers have been killed since the beginning of the full-scale war, hundreds have been kidnapped, and more than 600 religious buildings have been destroyed or damaged.
“Faith under siege” is not just a record of the crimes of war. The film is conceived as an appeal to the global Christian community with a call to prayer, support and an active position.
The goal of the authors is to reach the audience as much as possible. They want Christians, especially in America, to use the power of their influence to defend religious freedom in Ukraine.
The film shows that the persecution of believers is not only one of the dimensions of military aggression, but also an attempt to destroy spiritual and national identity. Despite the abduction of children, the destruction of churches and the torture of pastors, Ukrainian Christians continue to serve and remain faithful to the Gospel.
At a time when the aggressor hides behind the rhetoric of “defending values”, it is precisely those communities that remain loyal to Christ and do not submit to the force of arms that become living witness to the truth.
“Faith under siege” reminds the world: even in basements, to the sounds of shelling and among the ruins of temples, faith can remain unbreakable. And it is she who speaks to the world today louder than any propaganda.
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