Fr. Ihor Makar, a courageous Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest, was on his way to celebrate the sacred liturgy for the feast of Theophany when he faced a terrifying ordeal. A Russian drone targeted the car he was travelling in, leaving him injured but undeterred in his mission. “Living here is really dangerous,” he reflects, “but people continue to live here, and my calling as a priest is to stand by them in their time of need.”
By Svitlana Dukhovych
Fr. Ihor Makar was en route to lead the liturgy for the feast of Theophany and perform the traditional blessing of the waters when the drone strike occurred near Zelenivka, close to Kherson in southern Ukraine.
Fr. Makar, a devoted priest of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and director of Caritas in Kherson, was accompanied by seminarians from Drohobych Seminary on 6 January when they spotted the Russian drone on the road.
Despite the dangerous situation, Fr. Makar’s faith and commitment to his parishioners remained steadfast. The drone strike caused significant damage to the car but thankfully, the seminarians escaped unharmed. However, the priest sustained injuries that required surgery to remove shrapnel from his leg.
A Priest’s Dedication
Fr. Makar has been serving the Kherson region since 2005, where his first parish in Antonivka now sits on the frontline of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Throughout the Russian occupation of Kherson, Fr. Makar aided his parishioners from a distance, providing essential supplies to those in need. Since the region’s return to Ukrainian control, he has continued to serve tirelessly despite the daily threats of attacks.
“Living here is really dangerous,” Fr. Makar shared in an interview with Vatican News, “but people continue to live here, and my vocation as a priest is to be with them through it all.”
Christmas Attacks by Russia
Amid the festive season, Russian forces carried out brutal attacks in Kherson, targeting civilians celebrating various religious observances.
Tragically, a bus in the Shumensky district was attacked, resulting in casualties, including the loss of an employee and injuries to several individuals. In Shyroka Balka, a man lost his life due to a drone strike by Russian forces.
These horrific incidents were part of a larger onslaught during the Christmas period, with Russia launching numerous missiles and drones, causing widespread destruction and civilian casualties.
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the toll on civilians remains devastating, with numerous lives lost and many more injured as a result of the ongoing war.
