Pastor Yevhenii Salfetnikov survived a “Kinzhal” missile strike near Kyiv
On the morning of November 29, 2025, Pastor Yevhenii Salfetnikov and his family miraculously survived a Russian missile strike near Kyiv. A Russian “Kinzhal” ballistic missile exploded close to the road, tearing the roof off their minibus and injuring the pastor and his wife. Despite trauma and the loss of the vehicle that sustained his ministry, the frontline pastor from Druzhkivka said simply: “We must keep serving.”
Source: gospeltoday
A Pastor Serving on the Edge of the War
Yevhenii Salfetnikov is the pastor of “God’s Design” Church in Druzhkivka — a town that has lived under constant threat of shelling for years. His ministry is one of the few stable sources of spiritual and humanitarian support for frontline villages in the Donetsk region.
He regularly delivers water, bread, medicine, and the Gospel to communities that hear explosions every day. His minibus was not just a vehicle — it was an ark of rescue for those he could evacuate or support.
This was not the first attack he survived.
In April 2025, Russian FPV drones targeted his car during a humanitarian trip. The vehicle was damaged, but the pastor was unharmed. Despite repeated danger, he continued serving people living on the edge of the war.
Earlier he said:
“People on the frontline need more than food. They need hope. They need the Gospel. As long as God gives me breath, I will go.”
The “Kinzhal” Strike: Vehicle Destroyed, Family Injured
On November 29, the pastor was returning from a gathering of ministers in Kyiv. His wife and daughter were with him. Just after leaving the city, a “Kinzhal” missile struck nearby.
The blast was so powerful that:
the roof of the minibus was ripped off by the shockwave;
all the windows shattered instantly;
shards of glass cut the pastor’s and his wife’s faces;
Yevhenii partially lost hearing in one ear;
their daughter miraculously remained unharmed.
The minibus that had carried hundreds of people to safety and brought relief to frontline villages was completely destroyed.
“We Are Alive — It Is God’s Mercy. Now We Must Continue Serving.”
Speaking briefly after the attack, the pastor hardly mentioned his own injuries.
His greatest concern was how the ministry could continue without transportation — essential for:
evacuations,
delivering food and water,
reaching bombed communities still under Ukrainian control,
pastoral care for those unable to leave their homes.
He said:
“We are alive. It is God’s mercy. Now we need to think about how to continue the ministry.”
For frontline residents, Pastor Yevhenii is not simply a minister — he is someone willing to come where it is dangerous, someone whose presence brings hope.
And this is why his ministry cannot stop.
The story of Pastor Yevhenii is another reminder that Christian ministers in Ukraine continue their mission where the war is still raging. They bring bread, water, prayer, and the Gospel to those living in the shadow of shelling.
Despite injuries and the total loss of his vehicle, the pastor remains faithful to his calling.
This is a moment when the global Church can stand with its brother — in prayer and practical support.
