"IT WAS A TERRIFYING JOURNEY"

May 2026

Dear friends, I hope that you are doing well! Before I begin, I just want to say what a blessing you are to this ministry – thank you so much!

While the middle east rages on, oil prices skyrocket, and the news mainly concentrates on Iran, there have been some disturbing developments in Ukraine. I discovered recently that Ukaine has become one of the world leaders for drone manufacturing (about 60,000 – 80,000 drones per monthly) and is now exporting these drones, as well as, using them in the war with Russia. It is true that Ukraine has remained viable in this war due to the drones, but I am deeply concerned on how this is impacting the middle east and possibly other regions too. Here is one article: https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/04/29/drone-diplomacy-wins-ukraine-valuable-allies-but-now-it-must-deliver/.

On the front lines of Eastern Ukraine, there has been a renewed offensive by the Russian military. According to reports, the offensive has been slow, costly, and have had a high casualty rate. Our region of Kharkiv has been less affected than other regions on the front lines, but there have still be constant attacks. In the month of April, the Russian military engaged in 105 attacks in our region with 54 people injured or killed, including six children, which really breaks my heart, because no children should have to experience this – EVER!

Kyiv Post reported that the tide of momentum is beginning to turn in favor for Ukraine. I don’t know if this is true or not, but I can see that Ukraine president, Volodymyr Zelensky seems more upbeat than usual, so perhaps there is some truth to the report, which would be welcome news. I am not hearing anything new from my sources, however, here is Kyiv Post’s update: https://www.kyivpost.com/videos/75126.

Please pray as our ministry partners who are beginning their outreach events to children all across our region – they will be providing Christian children’s camps over the next few months. I will report on these activities in a few months. Next month, I will share about some of the orphans that we are ministering to through our ministry partners - but today, I want to share a success story within the landscape of a horrible four year.

I haven’t provided a testimony from a Ukrainian family that has fled Ukraine for quite awhile, so please allow me to share this update from Vika Fisina, who used to be an employee of Slavic Chrisitian Ministries and helped me translate my books into Russian and teach our English evangelism courses. She has been such a blessing and a dear friend for many years. Her husband Victor is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel – Kharkiv and has served as a pastor for many years. Here is Vika’s testimony:

“Hello dear friends in America, my name is Vika Fisina. I am originally from Ukraine, and I am 45 years old. Over three years ago, my family and I moved to California to escape the war that devastated our homeland. I am blessed with a wonderful husband, Victor, and two beautiful daughters, Veronika (19) and Violet (17). Veronika is now a freshman in college, and Violet is a senior at a private Christian school.

I was born in Western Ukraine, grew up in Central Ukraine, and studied for five years at the university in Kyiv. In 2003, I moved to Kharkiv in Eastern Ukraine, where I met Victor, who has faithfully served as the pastor of Calvary Chapel in Kharkiv for over ten years. Even after the war began, he has continued leading services online, staying connected to our church family back home, who continue to endure the horrors of this war. This last month, we celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary - praise the Lord!

During many years in Kharkiv, I worked for Slavic Christian Ministries under Ron Putnam’s direction. It was a time of tremendous growth, connection, and ministry opportunities. One year there was a group of missionaries sent from Clayton Community Church, whom we served as translators. The friendships were strongly established and when this war broke out, this beautiful church came to our aid and God used them to help save our family!

We have seen so much destruction in Kharkiv when we were there and following the war from a distance. My daughters were trained in dance for ten years and competed regularly; our hearts were heartbroken when we saw that their dance studio was destroyed during the war. This had a major effect on my children, but they are doing better now as they have integrated into the US school system and using their gifts and talents again, like normal kids, which makes us happy as parents.

On February 24, 2022, we woke up at 5 a.m. to the sound of explosions outside our apartment window. Within hours, our lives changed forever. We packed one suitcase and a few backpacks, grabbed our documents, and drove 32 hours to Lviv, Ukraine. It was a terrifying journey and we left behind our home, our church, our memories - everything familiar to us and everything we loved; we were scared and ran for our lives. My mother and brother, Victor’s parents, and many dear friends remain in Ukraine. I still struggle with homesickness and sorrow over what is happening in my country. February 24, 2026 marks four years since this brutal war began. The pain is ongoing.

We have now lived in America for over three years, and throughout this entire journey, God has faithfully provided for every one of our needs - and even beyond what we could have imagined – we are both employed and living in California. We are doing our best to build a normal and joyful life here, thanks to God and a lot of amazing people. Of course, this transition has not been without challenges. Starting over in a new country, adapting to a new culture, language, and way of life has stretched us in many ways. Yet through every uncertainty and every adjustment, God has remained faithful. We have learned that even when life changes dramatically, His goodness does not. And that truth continues to carry us forward with hope.

We are deeply thankful for every prayer, every kind word, and every act of generosity. The love and care we have received in those within the United States have been overwhelming kind. Our church family in California welcomed us when we were broken and displaced. God has been faithful through every season - through joy, through loss, through war, and through new beginnings. And I believe He has not finished writing our story yet. Thank you for all of your prayers for our family and Ukraine!” – Vika Fisina

Dear friends, please keep Vika and her family in your prayers and their extended family that remain in Ukraine too. I thank God for their safety and how the body of Christ has helped them in Ukraine and in America. Thank you for supporting them too.

While we mainly focus on supporting the church outreach in the Kharkiv region, we remain steadfast in helping those who have departed Ukraine, as we learn about needs. Thank you for your constant encouragement and blessing the people of Ukraine with your prayers and amazing generosity - I thank God for you in every way!!

In Jesus’ love,

 Ron