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Four years on from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) continues to support people and communities affected by the war, responding to urgent needs, restoring dignity and supporting recovery efforts.
Since the start of the war, over 13,000 civilians have been killed and up to 7 million people have fled the country, while over 10.8 million others in Ukraine remain in need of humanitarian aid. “This extreme cold winter has been particularly difficult in Ukraine, with repeated attacks on energy infrastructure disrupting electricity, heating and water supplies,” said Barnabás Szatmári, LWF Ukraine’s country representative. “More than 3.4 million people remain internally displaced, and communities close to the frontline face ongoing insecurity,” he noted. “In this context, our presence remains essential.”
In the past year alone, LWF has directly supported over 20,000 people affected by the war, many of them internally displaced, elderly or persons with disabilities. Working together with local partners, LWF has focused on repairing apartments, schools and other community buildings, ensuring safe in-person education for children and providing vital psychosocial support for people deeply affected by the war.
Over 70% of people in Ukraine reported signs of depression, anxiety or severe stress over the past year, according to statistics from the World Health Organization. Through group activities and individual mental health consultations, LWF promotes healing, recovery and resilience building for vulnerable adults and children, as well as for teachers and social workers providing care and support.
Over recent months, LWF has worked with local partners to provide life-saving assistance to internally displaced people and war-affected communities living in frontline areas close to the Russian border. Especially during the cold winter, the rapid provision of emergency shelter kits and firewood was provided to help families stay safe and warm, as well as other priorities such as non-food items and learning kits.
Reflecting on the four-year mark of the conflict in his country, Pavlo Shvarts, bishop of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine, said: “It is a tragic day for our people and our history.” At the same time, he continued, “we sincerely thank all of you who continue to pray for us and to keep our church in your heart.” Urging people to continue supporting the church’s efforts to keep hope alive in the midst of the conflict, he added: “We are deeply grateful for your open hearts, for your willingness to continue supporting people in Ukraine.”
Earlier in February, Henrik Stubkjær, bishop of Viborg in the Church of Denmark and president of the LWF, and Anne Burghardt, general secretary of the LWF, sent a pastoral letter to Shvarts giving thanks for the “faithful witness” of the church in Ukraine, describing its diaconal work and pastoral care as a “strong witness to the resilience and compassion at the heart of the gospel.” The LWF leaders described as “reprehensible” Russia’s recent intensification of drone and missile attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, with deliberate attacks on energy infrastructure as temperatures drop to -20°C.
In an earlier statement on Ukraine, LWF urged the international community “to act decisively to facilitate negotiations for peace with justice, and to ensure the protection of civilians.” Noting that “the humanitarian crisis is deepening,” while “international funding is shrinking,” the statement insisted that “Russia’s war against Ukraine must stop. International law must be upheld ensuring accountability and guaranteeing the safety of civilians.”
This story originally appeared at lutheranworld.org.
