Ukraine

By Stefan J, Bos Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife KYIV, UKRAINE (BosNewsLife)-- A Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest was kidnapped Saturday, March 15, by pro-Russian forces in Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, adding to concerns the tensions may turn into a religious and ethnic conflict, church sources said.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent KIEV/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- One year after the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by Russia, Ukrainian Christians say they are still facing persecution there by pro-Russian separatists who already killed several believers.

By BosNewsLife News Center ZAPORIZHIA/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- An elderly human rights activist who was forced to spend more than two weeks in a Ukrainian psychological hospital for "socially dangerous behavior" said Wednesday, August 14, she remains confined to her home amid fears of more persecution.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST/KIEV (BosNewsLife)-- Devoted Russian and Ukrainian Christians were among those commemorating the 25th anniversary of the world’s worst nuclear disaster Tuesday, April 26, amid new warnings that  the impact of the explosion at Ukraine's Chernobyl plant is more serious than previously thought.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife MOSCOW/KYIV/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Russian President Vladimir Putin has recognized Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula as an independent state and says approving the region's entry into the Russian Federation makes sense.

Listen to this BosNewsLife News report via Vatican Radio: Listen to Stefan Bos' report:  By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife KYIV/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Thousands of Ukrainians have demonstrated against a government decision to suspend preparations for a trade pact with the European Union. The protests come as the country also commemorates a Soviet-era famine that killed millions of people.

By BosNewsLife News Center with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos LONDON, BRITAIN (BosNewsLife)-- A Pentecoctal pastor faced a British employment tribunal Monday, November 2, after he was allegedly forced to resign from his job at a sex offenders' prison because Bible verses he quoted were deemed "homophobic". Ahead of Monday's hearing, Reverend Barry Trayhorn said the troubles began while he was leading "worship at a chapel service in May 2014" at the HMP Littlehey detention facility in Cambridgeshire where he spoke about "the wonder of God's forgiveness for those who repent".

By BosNewsLife UZHHOROD, UKRAINE (BosNewsLife)-- Svetlana Milchevich, an evangelical Christian who became a voice of the voiceless with her public fight against abuse of power and corruption by Ukrainian authorities, has died after officials refused to allow her to seek medical treatment in neighboring Hungary. She was 64

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent KYIV/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- The national bishop of Ukraine's largest Pentecostal-Charismatic denomination, has been freed after being abducted by suspected pro-Russian separatists, his brother and a mission group leader confirmed Saturday, May 17.

By BosNewsLife News Center with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos KIEV/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- A Ukrainian court has reportedly sentenced an elderly human rights activist, known for her fight against corruption and police abuse, to a psychological hospital resembling the Soviet-era, amid a wider crackdown on political opponents.