Russian Forces Bomb Baptist Church in Ukraine, Killing Pastor and Eight Members

A Russian airstrike hit the House of the Gospel Baptist Church in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, during a prayer meeting, killing the pastor and eight church members.

The Embassy of Ukraine in the United States described the attack as a "deliberate attack on people of faith." Mission Eurasia, a Christian humanitarian organization operating in the region, said churches serving local communities are frequently targeted by Russian forces.

Colby Barrett, a U.S. filmmaker documenting attacks on Christians in Ukraine, described a near-miss in September when two Russian drones narrowly missed a newly built megachurch in Kyiv where hundreds of pastors were gathered. Despite the danger, the service continued.

Mission Eurasia reported that the bombing has displaced many congregants from the Zaporizhzhia area. The organization said attacks on churches and humanitarian centers have increased in recent months.

The Religion Media Centre reported the attack as part of a broader pattern of strikes on civilian and religious infrastructure in eastern Ukraine.

Church leaders in the United States and Europe have called for stronger international protections for religious sites in active conflict zones. The Baptist World Alliance condemned the strike and called for an immediate ceasefire.