In January, the state Duma will discuss a law that would end all religious activity in residential buildings. Orthodox Church, Catholic Church and Adventists also oppose an initiative that “creates ground for interfaith conflicts”.

The European Evangelical Alliance says Christians pray for “shalom” in both countries. Its board responds to a Russian evangelical leader who said global evangelicals were “not doing enough to call for forgiveness”.

The secretary general of the Russian Evangelical Alliance, Vitaly Vlasenko, calls for peace, reconciliation and an end to the war.

Members of the Russian Evangelical Alliance traveled to Shanghai, Nanjing and Beijing to meet leaders of the China Christian Council.

The proposal to establish a regional  Evangelical Alliance in Kaliningrad was well received and work has begun on formalizing the structures.

The attempt of the Russian and later Soviet state to settle them down and Christianize them, or convert them to atheism, has succeeded only to a very small extent. They still live as semi-nomads and pursue their animistic paganism.

The smear marathon continues wherever people like me seek a balanced position. How can this avalanche, which harms above all the Ukrainians, be stopped?

Vitaly Vlasenko, a pastor in Moscow, in an open letter: “As a citizen, I apologize to all those who have suffered, lost loved ones and relatives, or lost their place of residence”.

In Russia, evangelical Christians are asking Vladimir Putin to seek a negotiation to “find a peaceful solution”.

European Evangelical Alliance prays for “those who have the power to save lives”. Russian Evangelical Alliance asks Putin to choose “peacemaking initiatives”. Christian radio in Odessa expects to be shut down.

In Ukraine, prayer gatherings multiply in the face of “stress and fear”. In Russia, evangelical leaders call for mediation.

In Fall of 2021 the Russian Defense Ministry officially invited the Russian Evangelical Alliance to provide Evangelical Pastors for military chaplaincy.

The Russian Evangelical Alliance calls to “restore the peaceful relations between the peoples of both countries”. Churches in Ukraine encouraged to “pray and fast for the peace in our land”.

Vitaly Vlasenko, a pastor in Moscow, analyses the situation of evangelicals in Russia. “I am not aware of pastors, bishops, or other Christian leaders who have participated in the protests”.

Inter-denominational contacts are on the rise in Russia.

The president got 75% of the votes, his biggest electoral victory. The future of religious freedom for the evangelical minorities is very much dependent on the course of East-West relations.

Polls say the President will win again with at least 70% of the vote. Evangelicals hope the state’s efforts to stengthen national unity will not further restrict the freedoms of faith minorities.

The REA wants to be a lay movement of church people concerned about inter-denominational cooperation.