Four years ago, on 24 February 2022, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. What was meant to be a matter of days has become one of the defining conflicts of our generation — and for the Ukrainian people, it has become a long, grinding struggle for survival that is as much emotional and spiritual as it is physical.

The Bible Society's latest report from Ukraine paints a picture of extraordinary resilience — and of the Church at the centre of it. With official figures citing 55,000 military deaths by the end of 2025 (with the real number believed to be significantly higher), and civilian casualties increasing by 70% in 2025 compared to 2024, the scale of trauma is immense. Approximately one million people are currently serving in the armed forces.

In the midst of this, churches have become stable pillars of support. The Ukrainian Bible Society has distributed approximately 1.6 million Bibles since the invasion began — and the demand for Scripture remains exceptionally high. Trauma healing programmes, pastoral care, and community support are being delivered through local churches across the country, often in areas where no other support structures remain.

For UK Christians, this is a reminder that the Church is not a peripheral institution in times of crisis — it is often the first responder, the last to leave, and the one holding communities together when everything else has fallen apart.

You can support the Ukrainian Bible Society's work through biblesociety.org.uk.