In the suburbs of Kyiv, where the central office of the Ukrainian Baptist Union is located, it is almost always loud. Over the past year, the sounds of repeated massive kamikaze drone attacks have become more frequent here. However, this noise no longer confuses anyone, as there is a saying among our people: If you fear the wolf, don't go to the forest. It means that dangers should not stop you if you want to achieve something. This principle guides all local churches during the war: to be with their people, to give them hope, and to serve even more under these circumstances.
Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine continues to inflict immense suffering on the Ukrainian people, causing loss of life, destruction of cities and civilian infrastructure, and severe human rights violations in the temporarily occupied territories. These include religious persecution, church closures, torture, and the killing of religious leaders from various denominations. Additionally, the war has led to mass migration, family separations, the abduction of Ukrainian children, and the inhumane treatment of both military and civilian prisoners. In this ever-evolving crisis, the church faces new and shifting challenges with each passing year.
We strive to remain courageous in this battle of good against evil, to support one another, and to do whatever is necessary for victory and the welfare of society. While the servants of the devil build new traps for the destruction of Ukrainians, the Church of Christ builds God's Kingdom.
In the three years of full-scale war, 86 churches have been established within the Baptist union. During this time, 10154 Ukrainians were baptized in the churches. Despite 261 pastors leaving during the war, 315 new pastors were ordained. Additionally, 19 pastors returned from migration. A total of 467 deacons left Ukraine, while 592 new ones were ordained. Also, 20 deacons returned from migration. Overall, 906 pastors and deacons were ordained during the war.
However, without the help of foreign friends and partners, our brothers and sisters, we would have accomplished little. The prayers and love of hundreds of thousands of brothers and sisters from our large family in the European Baptist Federation are a constant source of support, strength, and inspiration. If the church worries about how a pastor will support their family, how the church will survive the winter, how to heat the premises and feed the people, it will be less effective in evangelizing. But when its basic needs are met by a caring helping hand, it opens many new doors. Therefore, we are grateful to all international partners who, in countless ways, have shown us their support and helped Ukrainians survive, protect our freedom and democracy.
Three years of full-scale war in Ukraine is a time during which our children have grown up, and communities have created hundreds and thousands of memorial plaques in memory of soldiers who died in the war. It is a time of great upheaval for the Church, which, however, received special strengthening and confirmation from its Leader of faith. And we speak not only about Ukrainian churches but also about churches around the world, which have supported us with prayers, donations, hospitality to displaced persons, and everything necessary. Looking back, we are filled not just with tears of sorrow and loss, but with tears of gratitude and admiration for God's grace.
The winter period is particularly troubling and tense for us. When the enemy adopted a strategy of targeting energy infrastructure, it led to widespread scheduled and emergency power outages across the country. This crisis was further exacerbated by continuous shelling of civilians, the destruction of homes, and the occupation of towns and villages, leaving thousands in despair.
Amid this hardship, many found refuge in local churches, which provided essential support, including:
Humanitarian Aid: Assistance with accommodation, food, and other necessities.
Winter Support Services: Aid for children of servicemen, missing persons, and low-income families—reaching 42,596 children this winter.
Resources for Churches and Organizations: Supplying heating materials to ensure warmth during the harsh months.
Psychological and Spiritual Care: Offering counseling and emotional support to those affected.
Mobile Kitchens: Providing meals to those in need, with over 6,000 hot meals distributed in three Ukrainian cities in January 2025 alone.
In these difficult times, churches and Christian organizations continue to stand as beacons of hope, responding to the urgent needs of the people.
Even after three years, we continue to face internal migration challenges due to the prolonged war. The de-occupied territories of Kharkiv and Kherson remain dangerous and uninhabitable. Across the entire border line with Russia, constant shelling and destruction of Ukrainian towns and villages occur. The once vibrant and flourishing Donetsk cities, where churches operated and infrastructure functioned well, now resemble ruins and ghosts.
The most common areas of help that churches continue to provide during the cold period are meeting people's basic needs, providing warm housing for internally displaced persons (including meals). Evangelistic events with the distribution of humanitarian aid. Support for mental health, providing psychological assistance and overcoming PTSD through targeted activities. Small groups for internally displaced persons for Bible study.
Mostly, the provided help is prioritized: internally displaced persons and community members directly affected by infrastructure limitations. Primarily, the aid is directed towards supporting and protecting the most vulnerable from the destructive consequences of winter by procuring and distributing necessary supplies and resources throughout the winter season.
In serving society, churches are not superheroes; they remain just as vulnerable and weary. War affects everyone’s emotional state, day-to-day life, relationships, and socio-economic position. We face a large field of work: rebuilding the destroyed, restoring broken souls, and rehabilitating veterans and their families. Meanwhile, we have to learn how to find the right words to say to disheartened warriors and their comrades, to say to the families of the deceased. We also need to counsel the broken families of soldiers, build veteran centers, and gradually restore people who have been wounded by the war. Christians in Ukraine have learned not to live in illusions—focusing not on passive waiting for peace and victory, but on hard work, without expecting what might still happen. Therefore, we need to continue to strengthen, actively save immortal souls, and place our hope in God alone. A sign of God’s blessing was the law recently adopted by the Ukrainian Parliament to establish a National Day of Prayer annually on February 24th. So, on the day commemorating the third anniversary of the brutal war, the people of Ukraine unite in prayer to God. He is God, and from Him is our defense, our help in the day of trouble, and our future! We believe that all of you will stand with us on this day before God in intercessory prayer and thanksgiving. Imagining this unity in prayer we feel grateful without measure! Â
Together in prayer! Together in trials! Together in faith for a future that comes from God!
Valeriy Antonuk, President
Igor Bandura, Vice-President
