Ukraine

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife KYIV, UKRAINE (BosNewsLife)-- Christians in eastern Ukraine are mourning the death of four local church workers and a pastor who were killed in separate attacks by pro-Russian separatists as part of a wider crackdown on evangelicals in the war torn region, BosNewsLife learned.

By BosNewsLife Americas Service HAVANA, CUBA (BosNewsLife)-- As the countdown began Thursday, March 1, for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Cuba this month, there were reports that authorities have barred several known dissidents and their family members from attending church services, while several pastors were mistreated.

Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife at BosNewsLife News Center BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- Ukraine says a cargo ship laden with weapons, which was held by pirates off the coast of Somalia since September, has been freed, BosNewsLife monitored Friday, February 6.

Listen to this BosNewsLife News report via Vatican Radio: By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST/KYIV (BosNewsLife)-- Ukraine's jailed former prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, has begun a hunger strike in protest of the government's decision to suspend the signing a landmark trade agreement with the European Union. Her announcement came amid more clashes in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv yesterday, where police fired teargas on demonstrators.

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 BosNewsLife KYIV, UKRAINE (BosNewsLife)-- Ukraine's new president has ordered security officials to create a corridor for safe passage for thousands of civilians fleeing war-torn eastern regions, including non-Russian Orthodox Christians who have reported intimidation by pro-Russian separatists.

Listen to the report by Stefan Bos:  By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife KYIV/MOSCOW (BosNewsLife)-- The European Union and Ukraine have signed a landmark agreement on forging closer political and economic ties, in a show of support following Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. The accord was signed while, in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin formally absorbed Crimea into Russia.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife KYIV/SIMFEROPOL (BosNewsLife)-- The European Union and the United States have imposed wide ranging travel bans and asset freezes against dozens of officials from Russia and Ukraine who they blame for Russia's military incursion into Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. Monday's announcements follows a disputed referendum in Crimea where election officials said nearly 97 percent of voters decided to join Russia.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife KYIV, UKRAINE (BosNewsLife)-- Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovich on Thursday, february 21, called for a national unity government and early presidential elections, after violence between anti-government protesters and police killed as many as 100 people.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife KYIV, UKRAINE (BosNewsLife)-- Ukraine's government has accused pro-Russian separatists of shooting down a Malaysian passenger airplane in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board, many of them children and Dutch tourists.