“Missions Created in Russia, Ukraine,” Ensign, Apr. 1992, 75–76
Missions Created in Russia, Ukraine
The First Presidency has announced the creation of three new missions in Russia and Ukraine, the first missions of the Church to establish headquarters in the Commonwealth of Independent States (formerly the Soviet Union).
The new missions are the Russia Moscow Mission, the Russia St. Petersburg Mission, and the Ukraine Kiev Mission. They began operations on February 3.
The Russia Moscow Mission is led by President Gary L. Browning, formerly president of the Finland Helsinki East Mission. There are currently thirty missionaries in the mission, which serves approximately 11.5 million Russians in areas in and around Moscow.
The Russia St. Petersburg Mission is led by President Charles H. Creel, who was serving with his wife as a full-time missionary in the Austria Vienna East Mission at the time of his call to be mission president. There are currently forty-one missionaries in the mission, which serves approximately 10 million people in northwestern Russia and Estonia.
The Ukraine Kiev Mission will be led by President Howard L. Biddulph, formerly president of the Austria Vienna East Mission. There are currently thirty-five missionaries in the mission, which serves the entire population of Ukraine.
In announcing the new missions, the First Presidency also indicated that the Finland Helsinki East Mission and the Austria Vienna East Mission have been discontinued.
Church officials indicate that the creation of the new missions is possible because of official Russian recognition of the Church last year and similar recognition in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.
