Ukrainian Priest Wounded in Russian Drone Strike

Kherson, Ukraine, January 9, 2025: Fr. Ihor Makar, a Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest, was wounded by a Russian drone strike near Zelenivka, close to the southern city of Kherson, on 6 January while traveling to celebrate the liturgy for the feast of Theophany. The attack occurred on a slippery road as Fr. Makar and seminarians from Drohobych Seminary were en route to perform the traditional blessing of the waters at church in Zelenivka. The drone targeted their vehicle, shattering the car windows and damaging its doors and wheels. While the seminarians escaped unscathed, Fr. Makar sustained injuries and will require surgery to remove a piece of shrapnel lodged in his leg.

The attack highlights the ongoing risks faced by civilians and clergy in the war-torn Kherson region, which remains under constant bombardment. On the same day, a missile attack on a bus in the Shumensky district of Kherson killed one person and injured eight, while a drone strike in Shyroka Balka claimed the life of a 48-year-old man.

Fr. Makar has been serving the Kherson region since 2005. During the Russian occupation of Kherson, he aided parishioners by sending aid supplies from western Ukraine where he was staying with his family. Since Kherson's liberation in November 2022, he has resumed his ministry in the region’s two parishes, undeterred by daily attacks.

The recent surge in Russian strikes, including the launch of over 70 missiles and 100 drones around Christmas, has targeted Ukraine’s energy sector while causing significant civilian casualties. A United Nations report stated that between September and November 2024, 574 civilians were killed, and 3,082 injured due to the war. Fr. Makar’s ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the toll this conflict continues to exact on Ukraine’s clergy and civilian population.

Courtesy: Vatican News