Ukraine’s capital, with nearly 3 million people, is one of the oldest in Europe, yet it is a mixture of former Soviet architecture and highly developed transportation systems; traditional Slavic mindsets and modern Western European culture; and Orthodox religion and mystic, occultist beliefs.

Home to the first large Slavic kingdom centuries ago, it is where Slavic people first became Orthodox. Ukraine later became part of the Russian empire and consequently the Soviet Union but gained its independence after the collapse of the USSR in 1991.

“[ people] can easily hold two ideas in their head that radically conflict with each other and see no problem,” said Dan Upchurch, a Southern Baptist missionary who serves in Kyiv with his wife Lori. “It’s not hard for them to deal with the fact that they are Orthodox by tradition but atheist by practice.”

This dichotomous mindset is a major challenge in the Upchurches’ ministry work. They and another International Mission Board couple, Joel and Mary Ellen Ragains, teach church planting at Kyiv Theological Seminary. The four-year undergraduate program requires students to attend classes four times each year for 10 days at a time.

People think in two distinct categories in Ukrainian culture — knowledge and practice, Upchurch said, noting that they love to gain knowledge, but “they have no idea what to do with it.”

“Their default setting would be to put theological education in the knowledge category but not in the practice category,” he said.

The seminary’s church-planting program, however, pushes students to put knowledge into practice. Not only do they take classes about theological subjects, but students also must be involved in planting a church in order to earn their diploma.

Students from across Eurasia — including Russia, Belarus, Romania, Azerbaijan and Lithuania — have come to learn the church-planting methods taught at Kyiv Theological Seminary.

“Our goal is to get students from as many of the countries as we can so that they can go back home and start church planting,” Lori Upchurch said.

“Nationals are the ones that are going to get the job done,” Dan Upchurch noted. “Americans in Eastern Europe, unless trends change, are going to directly be able to do less and less, but nationals have the capability and the freedoms still in many places where we can’t do anything in terms of direct church planting and mass evangelism — they can still do that. They are the heartbeat.”

Though the seminary’s church-planting program is only about six years old, the Upchurches are encouraged by the progress they’ve seen. More than 30 graduates have started 30-plus new churches; these graduates also have baptized approximately 600 new believers. In addition, current seminary students are planting an additional 30 churches.

The Upchurches and Ragainses ask prayer that Ukrainians will see Jesus as the only truth; that students from Kyiv Theological Seminary and their families will put their knowledge into practice as they plant churches; that students and financial resources will continue to come to the seminary; and that they will see fruitful results in mentoring and discipling the students who will spread the Gospel across Eurasia.

Stoke hold Dynamo Kiev to progress

A late goal from Kenwyne Jones earned Stoke a 1-1 draw with Dynamo Kiev at the Britannia Stadium and booked their place in the next round.

Kiev were much the better side in the first half at the Britannia Stadium, and it was no surprise when they took the lead on 28 minutes after Matthew Upson turned Oleksandr Aliyev’s shot into his own goal.

In the second half, though, Stoke were on top, and they finally earned a share of the spoils nine minutes from time when Jones headed home from a Jermaine Pennant cross.

Ricardo Quaresma struck a dramatic injury-time winner for Besiktas whose 3-2 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel means they will join Stoke in the next stage if they win their final match.

FC Twente recorded a late 1-0 win over Fulham as Martin Jol’s men passed up an opportunity to qualify for the next round of the Europa League.

Substitute Marc Janko came on to deliver the only goal of the game in the 89th minute, diverting home a Roberto Rosales cross, to ensure Twente will go through as Group K winners. Fulham endured extra misery as they saw Damien Duff and Mousa Dembele limp off through injury, while Andrew Johnson was shown a second yellow card in injury time.

Even so, their destiny remains in their own hands as they prepare for their final match against Odense at Craven Cottage. The Danes own hopes are over, though, as they were beaten 2-1 at home to Wisla Krakow. The result means the Polish side trail Fulham by a point as they prepare to host Twente on December 14.

Athletic Bilbao ensured they will finish top of Group F with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Slovan Bratislava at San Mames.

The home side had already qualified for the last 32 of the competition, but still repeated their 2-1 win over their already-eliminated opponents in the reverse fixture courtesy of goals from Oscar de Marcos and Markel Susaeta either side of an equaliser from Filip Sebo.

In the other game in Group F, Salzburg kept alive their Europa League chances with a hard-fought 2-0 win at home to Paris St Germain.

The Austrians needed victory to stop their hopes of progressing from Group F being extinguished while PSG just needed a point to guarantee their last-32 place. The result went Salzburg’s way as they edged an entertaining clash courtesy of Jakob Jantscher’s first-half strike and Dusan Svento’s late volley, which actually took them above their opponents into second place in the group with a game to play.

Schalke confirmed qualification as Group J winners with a 2-1 win over Steaua Bucuresti in Germany.

Schalke went ahead in the 25th minute through Kiriakos Papadopoulos and, despite Raul Rusescu’s quick equaliser, the Germans clinched victory early in the second half when Raul put away a Klaas Jan Huntelaar pass.

Managerless AEK Larnaca earned their first win of their Europa League campaign with a deserved 2-1 victory at home to Maccabi Haifa.

With Ton Caanen having been given his marching orders, AEK produced a response as Gonzalo Garcia and Gorka Pintado earned them the win despite Jurica Buljat’s consolation. The result left AEK still bottom of Group J and Haifa still second behind Schalke.

Goals from Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Valeri Bojinov gave Sporting a 2-0 win to cement top spot in Europa League Group D and end Zurich’s interest in the competition.

Van Wolfswinkel netted the only goal of a one-sided first half, before Bojinov gave the scoreline a more realistic look with a second-half effort. It means a fourth win in five games for the Portuguese side, and guaranteed top spot with one match to spare.

In the other Group D game, FC Vaslui held Lazio to a goalless draw in Romania to remain firmly in contention for a place in the next round.

The result has left the two sides level on six points, with the Romanian side second in the standings ahead of the Italians on goal difference. The final round of matches sees Vaslui travel to winless FC Zurich while Lazio face a daunting task as they host group winners Sporting Lisbon on December 14.

Guillaume Gillet’s double ensured Anderlecht maintain control of Europa League Group L as they beat AEK Athens 2-1. Things looked good for the Belgians from the moment Gillet opened the scoring early on and, though Dimitris Sialmas equalised, Gillet headed the winner from close range in the 35th minute.

Ukraine is the pivot around which the two suitors are dancing and soon a decision will have to be made or the music will simply stop. The question here is who will make the decision. A number of Party of Regions senior members and benefactors have expressed their opinion that Europe is the way forwards but one in particular has so much of his Empire interwoven within Russia that the price may well be very high indeed.

The problem is that the Administration and its benefactors all have vested interests in the Russian option, especially those profiteering from the ever changing gas prices, but all clearly understand that the right decision is Europe. If Ukraine takes the European option then they will most likely be the first to suffer as it is they who will incur the Kremlin’s wrath.

If Ukraine takes the Russian option then they might be secure in the short term but only until Russia’s political culture follows Russian investments into Ukraine and, simultaneously, their interests in Europe may be much more difficult to manage and potentially less profitable. In fact they are damned if they do and damned if they don’t… but that is what happens in a ménage a trois.

The only person who can really make this decision is the President. Difficult decisions come with the job and now it is time for him to honour his oath of loyalty to the nation rather than bending to the interests of an unelected few. Since all power is finite, working in the interest of the people is the only guarantee of a long term political perspective as intrigue will only mean unending and highly damaging court cases under the next government.

Sign deal with Kiev, Tymoshenko daughter tells EU

“I think it could work in Ukraine as well…I see no reason why it shouldn’t be done, because the repression is so transparent now in Ukraine. It’s so clear what is going on — it’s physical removal of opponents.”

She said her mother had skin problems and serious back pain requiring treatment and physiotherapy. Her health was such that she feared for her life, but her doctor had not been allowed to visit her to take a blood test.

“We are trying to appeal now to the European Parliament…the Council of Europe, to send a group of independent doctors to check, really to diagnose her, and to see whether her life is in threat or not.”

While her mother was receiving pain-killing injections, it was not known what effect these would have on her and how long she could take them. “She really cannot walk or stand up.”

In a dramatic plea from her prison cell in November, Yulia Tymoshenko urged the EU to go ahead with the association agreement regardless of her fate.

Ukraine’s EU ambassador, Kostiantyn Yelisieiev, said this week it appeared unlikely the documents would now be initialled. EU diplomats have said a joint statement simply acknowledging that talks have been formally concluded may be an alternative option, but this would be tantamount to a diplomatic failure.

The power of faith lights a prisoner’s Christmas

When, despite unbearable pain, you are interrogated including in your cell for dozens of hours without a break, and an authoritarian regime’s entire system of coercion, including its media, is trying to discredit and destroy you once and for all, prayer becomes the only intimate, trusting, and reassuring conversation that one can have.

God, one realises, is one’s only friend and only available family, because, deprived even of access to a trusted priest, there is no one else in whom to confide one’s worries and hopes. In this season of love and family, the loneliness of a prison cell is almost unbearable.

The grey, dead silence of night (guards peer in voyeuristically through a slot in the door), the sudden, disembodied shrieks of prisoners, shrieks of distress and rage, the distant rattles and clangs of prison bolts: all make sleep impossible, or so restless as to be a torment.

But what is strange is that your senses are not dulled by this dead and dreadful world. On the contrary, they are ignited by it: your mind is set free from mundane concerns to ponder the inestimable and your place within it — a freedom of spirit that is a truly unexpected gift this Christmas season. In the cell’s darkness, I gather strength and hope from the fact that God somehow seems so near to me here. For where else would Christ be but with those who suffer and are persecuted?

Indeed, I have recently been reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s sublime and challenging Letters and Papers from Prison, in which he yearns for a Christ capable of offering mercy to a world, our world, then in the process of being martyred for a single man.

Written in a cramped, dank and putrid cell, where hope was meant to die before the body, Bonhoeffer crafted a book rich in faith, openness, possibility, and, yes, hope even in humanity’s darkest hour.

One particular passage resonates with me as I contemplate Ukraine’s plight. As he awaited his approaching execution by the Nazis, Bonhoeffer wrote that, in prison, “the godlessness of the world is not . . . concealed but, rather, revealed, and is thus exposed to an unexpected light.”

So I take some comfort this Christmas in knowing that the godlessness, inhumanity, and criminality of the regime that is now ruling in Kiev are, at long last, being exposed to the world in a clear light.

Its democratic posturing has been unmasked as cynical political theatre, its claim to desire a European future for Ukraine’s people revealed to be a lie, and the rapaciousness of its kleptocrats has been laid bare. The regime’s contempt for the constitution and the rule of law is now undeniable, and that clarity is empowering.

More importantly, the suffering of Ukraine’s people has also become more widely known, and we are no longer so alone in our plight. Alleviating it has been embraced as a just cause across Europe and around the world. The everyday oppression, stifled media, and shakedowns and extortion of businesses for bribes all point to a mafia state on Europe’s border. Now our European friends can no longer deny the smug vileness of the regime with which they are forced to deal. And I am thankful this Christmas for being able to believe that democratic Europe will not tolerate this state of affairs. Ukrainians will be strong knowing that they are not alone in their fight.

I do not pretend to be an expert on religious faith and spiritual values. I am only a believer who cannot accept that our existence is the result of some freak cosmic accident. We are, I believe, part of a mysterious yet integral act, whose source, direction, and purpose, though difficult to grasp at times, does have meaning and purpose even when one is confined behind prison bars.

It is only faith in the idea that our lives matter, and that our decisions must be judged by their moral content, that we in Ukraine, and elsewhere, will be able to find our way out of the misery, unhappiness, and despair that have consumed us over the past two years. It is within our power to recover or reinvigorate our freedoms and our societies, not by individual efforts, but by joining forces with like-minded people all over the world. I know that we will manage this.

This Christmas, I ask my family and friends everywhere not to worry about me. As Anna Akhmatova, the great poetic chronicler of Stalin’s terror, said, “I am alive in this grave.” Indeed, I am more alive, I know, than the men who have imprisoned me here.

Christmas is meant to mark the possibility of a new beginning for all men and women.

As Bonhoeffer affirmed with his last words: “This is, for me . . . the beginning of life.”

Kingdom, Ukraine to coordinate on fight against piracy, terror

Saudi Arabia and Ukraine have set out a new vision of bilateral relationship with plans to boost cooperation in different sectors, especially in commerce, defense, agriculture and tourism.

Ukrainian opposition: Yulia Tymoshenko lawyer seeks help abroad

Kiev The lawyer for the convicted to seven years in prison Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko said on Monday announced a review of the recent ruling abroad. “It is useless to rely on independent judges in Ukraine, so we will call in foreign courts,” said Sergei Vlasenko at a press conference in Kiev.

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg already check the criminal cases of various Ukrainian opposition politician. Even the United States, a court should examine the case, said Vlasenko. Up to 22 March had the Ukrainian government is now time for an opinion in the case of Timoshenko. “After that, the chances are not bad, that the Strasbourg court will hear the case on an expedited basis,” said Vlasenko.

The defenders were worried about Tymoshenko. On the one hand is still unclear how it is with the health of 51-year-olds, on the other had reason to fear that Tymoshenko will be transferred to a penal colony. Since the end of November Yulia Tymoshenko is treated in the medical department of a remand prison.

“I have an uneasy feeling that she is moved over the holidays,” said Vlasenko. In Ukraine related to the Year and Orthodox Christmas on 6 January two high holidays before.

Tymoshenko’s Fatherland Party

prepared, appeared before the adoption in October next year’s upcoming parliamentary elections. “Who will lead the party is still open,” said Vladimir Fesenko, a political scientist and director of the Penta Center for Political Studies. Indeed, there are behind the scenes battles between younger members and the party leadership.

The 35-year old Natalia Korolewskaja, a foster child Tymoshenko’s political left, select in the past week as Chairman of the Ukrainian Social Democrats. However, they have declared their intention to continue to belong to Tymoshenko’s block multi-party, Ukrainian media reported.

The EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton complained that Tymoshenko would be prevented from participating in parliamentary elections. The EU has repeatedly emphasized the importance of an impartial appeals process. The whole process did not comply with international standards of fair, transparent and independent judicial process.

Last Monday, the EU at a summit in Kiev refused to sign an association agreement with Ukraine, because the EU states do not recognize the verdict against Yulia Tymoshenko. The former prime minister was on 11 October has been an internationally controversial process to a seven-year prison sentenced. Last Friday, an appeals court upheld the verdict.

Ukraine seeks three-party gas transit consortium – Viktor Yanukovych

Ukraine still wants to create a trilateral gas consortium with the EU and Russia to manage its gas transportation system, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said on Wednesday.

“We very much want to create a gas transportation consortium, in which responsibility for its operation will be shared between Ukraine, Russia and Europe,” Viktor Yanukovych told a news conference.

Ukraine has long been seeking to alter the terms of the 2009 gas deal it signed with Russia. The deal ties the price of gas to oil prices, which have risen strongly since 2009, boosting Ukraine’s gas bill. The contract says Ukraine must import no less than 33 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia.

Kiev insists on reducing both the price and the volume of gas imports.

In August Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Ukraine could get gas price discounts if it made an attractive offer on its gas transport system. Kiev offered Moscow to create a trilateral gas consortium with the EU. Moscow did not welcome the idea at that time.

Yanukovych also said that the consortium’s possible creation was on the agenda of ongoing gas talks between Russia and Ukraine.

The price of Russian natural gas for Ukraine should not exceed $250 per 1,000 cubic meters, Yanukovych said.

In the fourth quarter of 2011, Ukraine pays $400 per 1,000 cubic meters for Russian gas.

“We think the price for Ukraine should not be higher than $250, but it is difficult to say what it would (finally) be,” he said.

Last week Kommersant business daily reported that Russian gas giant Gazprom might lower the gas price for Ukraine to $210-220 per 1,000 cubic meter, if Kiev sold part of its gas transportation system to Moscow.

Russia annually pumps about 100 billion cubic meters of gas to European countries via Ukraine, which makes up 80 percent of its total gas supplies to Europe.

Ukraine says dragged gas talks with Russia near compromised decision

Ukraine’s talks with Russia on the deliveries of natural gas are dragging but near a compromised decision, the Ukrainian prime minister said on Saturday.

“Step by step, very slowly, but we are proceeding,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said in an interview with Ukraine’s national television.

He said the talks are dragging because of the favorable conditions that Russia currently enjoys but Ukraine seeks them to be revised.

“Russia enjoys an extremely beneficial deal, and Mr. Alexei Miller [the head of the Russian energy giant Gazprom] has recently called the deal as beautiful. Whereas the deal is beautiful for them [Russia], it becomes a servitude to us,” Azarov said.

Ukraine has long sought to alter the terms of the 2009 gas deal it signed with Russia. The deal ties the price of gas to oil prices, which have risen strongly since 2009, boosting Ukraine’s gas bill. The contract also says Ukraine must import no less than 33 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia.

Kiev wants to reduce both the price and the volume of gas imports.

In the fourth quarter of 2011, Ukraine is paying $400 per 1,000 cu m for Russian natural gas.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych signs Ukraine’s 2012 budget based on gas price of $416

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has signed into law the country’s 2012 budget based on the price of Russian natural gas at $416 per 1,000 cubic meters, the presidential press office reported on Wednesday.

Ukraine delayed the budget adoption until the last moment, expecting that the ongoing talks on gas price cuts with Moscow would produce positive results. However, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said on Tuesday the budget process would not be delayed or made contingent on gas talks with Russia while amendments could be made to it if the parties reached a deal on gas price reduction.

Ukraine has long been seeking to alter the terms of the 2009 gas deal it signed with Russia. The deal ties the price of gas to oil prices, which have risen sharply since 2009, boosting Ukraine’s gas bill. The contract says Ukraine must import no less than 33 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia annually.

Kiev insists on reducing both the price and the volume of gas imports. In the fourth quarter of 2011, Ukraine pays $400 per 1,000 cubic meters for Russian natural gas.

Gazprom said on Monday gas talks with Ukraine would continue on January 15, 2012.

Russia annually pumps about 100 billion cubic meters of gas to European countries via Ukraine, which makes up 80 percent of its total gas supplies to Europe.

Ukrainian company to invest $1bn in Iran’s oil sector

According to local sources on Sunday, Ukraine’s Inter Naft Gas Prom Pars will sign an agreement in this regard with Iran’s Petroleum Engineering and Development Company by March next year.

The Ukrainian company is expected to develop Kouhmond, Boushkan and Kouhkali oil fields in two phases.

After the first phase, the fields will produce 10,000 barrels per day of crude oil which will be increased to 25,000 barrels per day after the second phase of development is finished.

Ukraine’s decision comes after Iran signed a contract for the development of Zagheh oil field in south Iran with Tartarstan’s Tatneft Group. On Iran’s side, the contract was signed by Petroleum Engineering and Development Company.

Based on that contract, Zagheh oil field, which is located in Bushehr province about six kilometers from the Persian Gulf, will produce 7,000 barrels per day of heavy crude in the first phase of its development, and the amount will be increased to 55,000 bpd following the second phase.

Iran’s total in-place oil reserves have been estimated to be at more than 560 billion barrels with about 140 billion extractable barrels.

International sanctions imposed on Iran by the United Nations under the pretext of the country’s nuclear program do not allow countries to invest in Iran’s oil and gas projects.

The US, Israel and their allies accuse Iran of pursuing a military nuclear program and have used this allegation to convince the UN Security Council to impose four rounds of sanctions on Iran.

Tehran has categorically refuted Western allegations, saying that as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), it has the right to acquire and develop atomic technology for peaceful purposes.