letter from Ukraine
February marked four years since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, and 12 years since the Russo-Ukrainian War began with the invasion and annexation of Crimea. With so many other things going on in the world, an easily bored news cycle that eagerly moves on to the “next thing”, and limited attention spans, it can be far too easy for those of us in the UK to forget the significance and severity of what is happening, and I fear at times that its relevance is not felt nor its relationship to other conflicts grasped.
The horrors of World War Two serve as a helpful benchmark by which to consider what is happening in Ukraine. It is the most brutal war in Europe since then by total deaths, military casualties, urban destruction, confirmed civilian deaths and general intensity. It is the largest inter-state European conflict since World War Two, and the most strategically important.
Although managed relatively well, the resulting refugee crisis is the most significant in Europe in 80 years, by the total number of those displaced (including internal displacement), scale of displacement and speed of displacement.
Despite seeing a return to the full-scale attritional approach to warfare that many thought belonged to wars past, it has also simultaneously occasioned technological advances, particularly with regard to drones.
It is at this point in time the most documented war in history.
We are far too often addicted to ease, and avoidant of anything that makes us uncomfortable. People opine about “off-ramps”, “cease-fire” and “concessions”, with little understanding of the core issues, and not because they care but because they are tired of it all and would rather move on.
There is talk of fatigue: “information fatigue”, “news fatigue”, “donor fatigue”, and even “Ukraine fatigue” (a real term!) - surely this idea of us being “fatigued” is the height of privilege and fragility when we are not the ones being bombed daily by our neighbour.
Reinvigorated advocacy is needed when others have grown silent, revitalised hospitality when the need for housing refugees has not gone away, recommitted resources as the needs are broadly unchanged, and reassured confidence: Ukraine really does have the cards, to revise an infamous line from last year’s Oval Office incident.
Winter 2025-2026 was the coldest in a decade. Ukrainian energy infrastructure was bombarded by Russia, weaponising the weather in an attempt to turn the people against their government. Perhaps the bitter cold would wear down their resolve to defend their cultural identity and sovereignty. Perhaps days spent in darkness would make them forget the years that the missiles have devoured, the children abducted, the widows and orphans made, the men irreparably scarred in body and mind. It might be that the chill winds of winter would blow away memory of Bucha’s stench, Kramatorsk Railway Station’s bloody pavement, Mariupol Drama Theatre’s buried children, or Dnipro’s days of mourning.
Such a thought process is absurd, of course, utterly misguided, and was a complete failure - like everything else about Russia’s pointless invasion. They have failed to rapidly take Kyiv, overthrow the democratically-elected Ukrainian government, install a pro-Russian regime, conquer the nation as a whole, completely take even the long-embattled Donbas region, destroy Ukrainian military capability, make meaningful gains with minimal loss, maintain operational momentum, strengthen global standing and weaken other countries and alliances.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has held their ground, are pushing back, and in recent months reclaiming more and more of what is rightfully theirs. They have learned from their history, whether under the boot of Tsar or Soviet, that it is better to be cold and free than warm and slaves.
An only stronger, more resolved Ukraine, is Russia’s greatest failure.
Of course, the tides of this conflict go back and forth. Who has most certainly not failed? The Lord God who knows that the raging of the nations is vain. He is why I am, once again, in Kyiv for a week of ministry. My assignment this time is to teach a group of church planters at Kyiv Theological Seminary on Biblical Leadership. I anticipate learning myself from these men who are eager to serve the Lord, with sober joy, whatever their situation.
A few weeks ago I had a call with Ukrainian men doing similar work in Europe. They have chosen to reject the identity of “unhappy refugees” and to answer instead the call to be “joyful missionaries.”
Come what may, our God reigns and he will be exalted among the nations.
I welcome questions, opportunities to speak on this subject, and inquiries about partnership. Please email me at gracebaptistsineurope@gmail.com.
