Ukraine marks four years of war. UGCC head Shevchuk calls it a “disgrace for humanity” and speaks on resilience, faith, and global solidarity.
Newsroom (24/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) As Ukraine endures the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, describes the milestone as both “tragic” and “a disgrace for humanity.” In a deeply personal reflection, he recounts the mounting suffering of civilians and the unyielding strength of a nation forced to survive amid destruction, isolation, and bitter cold.
“It is shameful that in four years the international community has failed to stop the aggressor’s deadly hand,” said Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halyč. “Some historians observe that even the Second World War lasted less in our lands than this current aggression. It is something that should never have started and must now end.”
A War Without End
The Archbishop notes that while the full-scale invasion began in 2022, Ukraine’s suffering stretches back to 2014, with Russia’s occupation of Crimea and parts of Donbas. Four years into the broader war, destruction and loss have only intensified.
“In the first months, even during 2022, the situation was not as dramatic as it is today,” Shevchuk said. “Now, especially this winter, the suffering in Kyiv is unspeakable.” The capital, battered by cold and constant attacks, has become a symbol of endurance—and of engineered human misery.
A New Genocide of Cold
Shevchuk describes Kyiv’s winter as a humanitarian disaster that some Ukrainians now call “Kholodomor” — from kholod, meaning “cold” — an echo of the historical Holodomor, the man-made famine of the 1930s. With temperatures plunging to minus twenty degrees Celsius and Russian forces methodically targeting power and heating facilities, millions face the freezing winter without heat, light, or running water.
The Archbishop paints a grim picture: “Imagine a building with three thousand people where everything is frozen. The internal temperature is only a few degrees higher than outside. The bathrooms are unusable. Many are trapped and do not know where to go.”
In response, the Church and residents have organized “Resilience Centres” — generator-powered tents where people can warm up, charge devices, and find community. “Our cathedral shelter runs its generator twenty hours a day,” Shevchuk said. “Many now live there; we provide everything they need.”
Faith Amid the Frost
Despite exhaustion and loss, the Archbishop insists that Ukrainians’ will to resist has only deepened. “There is no sense of fatigue leading to despair. Rather, every new missile attack strengthens the will to stand,” he explained.
He shares an encounter that, to him, captures the nation’s spirit. “A five-year-old boy in my cathedral told me, ‘If I can beat the cold, Ukraine will win too.’” Such moments, he said, reflect the quiet heroism of ordinary Ukrainians who sing, dance, and smile even amid the ruins.
Suffering, Service, and the Church’s Burden
The Church in Ukraine, Shevchuk emphasized, “suffers together with the people.” Priests and religious leaders, many of whom have lost loved ones, continue to serve communities under fire. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has launched a nationwide program for “healing of wounds,” offering psychological and spiritual therapy.
“Those who have suffered become ‘wounded healers,’ able to understand others’ pain and guide them toward healing,” he explained. “Mental and spiritual health has become the heart of our mission.”
Global Solidarity Rekindled
Shevchuk expressed gratitude for widespread humanitarian solidarity, which he said “had faded in 2025 but has revived amid this year’s suffering.” The dramatic winter conditions in Kyiv once again moved international partners to action.
He recalls how a simple message to Polish Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś inspired immediate support: “Within days, one million zlotys were collected, and trucks of generators were already on their way. As the Latin saying goes—‘Bis dat qui cito dat’: He who gives quickly, gives twice.”
Pope Leo and the universal Church have since renewed humanitarian support through Caritas and national bishops’ conferences. Yet, Shevchuk insists that moral support and awareness are just as vital as material aid. “What sustains us is that people across Europe remember Kyiv, pray for us, and speak of our suffering.”
A Call to Human Conscience
On this mournful anniversary, Archbishop Shevchuk issued a collective call to conscience. “I ask everyone to make a promise—to build peace. Politicians, clergy, diplomats, soldiers, and volunteers must all do their part.”
While Ukraine struggles for survival, the Archbishop points toward a distant but hopeful horizon. “Another time will come,” he said. “A time to heal the trauma, to rebuild what war has destroyed. But first, the aggressor must be stopped.”
He ends with a simple plea—one that has echoed through every Ukrainian winter since 2022: Orate pro nobis. Pray for us.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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