Ukraine war: The chaplain saving civilians on the Donbas frontlines

The fighting on the frontlines in the eastern Ukrainian Donbas region has been described as "extremely tough". The local governor, Serhiy Haidai, has said the industrial city of Lysychansk was suffering "catastrophic destruction" because of heavy Russian shelling. Severodonetsk has endured weeks of bombardment, as Russian forces try to take complete control of the region, and now, Ukrainian forces have been ordered to withdraw from the city according to the top regional official.

Oleksandr Reshetnik, Ukrainian army chaplain, provides spiritual support to soldiers, even baptising one of them on the frontline recently. He has also been driving his minivan into some of the most dangerous cities in the region, including Severodonetsk, and persuading civilians to leave.

"I feel fear but I think God is with me."

Photo: Ukrainian soldiers inspect a destroyed warehouse reportedly targeted by Russian troops on outskirts of Lysychansk, in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas Credit: Getty Images

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