Ukraine War: Prayer, Protection, and Refuge
Summary: The Ukraine crisis, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, has displaced roughly one-third of Ukraine's population and created one of the largest humanitarian disasters in recent European history. As Christians, this conflict challenges us to wrestle with difficult questions about when military force is justified while simultaneously calling us to show radical compassion to all who suffer. The global Church's response has been remarkable—within hours of the invasion, churches across Europe mobilized to provide shelter, food, and care to millions of refugees, demonstrating that we don't have to choose between supporting justice (Ukraine's right to defend itself) and showing mercy (caring for all victims of war). This crisis teaches us that following Jesus in a broken world means holding both courage and compassion together: we can pray for Ukrainian victory while also praying for Russian repentance, support necessary defense while also welcoming refugees, and work for peace while acknowledging that sometimes protecting the innocent requires difficult choices about the use of force.
Remember waking up on February 24, 2022, to news that seemed almost impossible to believe? Russia had launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Missiles were striking Kyiv. Tanks were rolling across borders. In the span of a few hours, Europe was at war again.
Maybe you felt shock, anger, or helplessness as you watched the news unfold. Maybe you wondered what you, as a follower of Christ, were supposed to think or do about it all. These are hard questions, and they don't have simple answers. But they're questions we need to wrestle with together.
Let's talk about what happened, why it matters to us as Christians, and how we can respond in ways that honor both justice and mercy.
What Actually Happened
If you've been following the news, you know the basic story. But let me fill in some details that help us understand the scope of what we're dealing with.
When Russia invaded on February 24, 2022, it wasn't a small border skirmish. This was a massive, coordinated attack from multiple directions. In the opening hours, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law as explosions rocked Kyiv and other major cities. Russian forces pushed from the north, east, and south, quickly capturing strategic points like Hostomel airport near the capital and the southern city of Kherson.
But here's what surprised many military experts: Ukraine didn't collapse. Despite being vastly outnumbered and outgunned, Ukrainian forces—both military and civilian—mounted fierce resistance. The lightning strike that was supposed to topple the government in days turned into a grinding, brutal war that's now stretched into its third year.
The human cost has been staggering. As of early 2025, roughly one-third of Ukraine's entire pre-war population has been displaced. Think about that for a moment. Imagine if one out of every three people in your country had to flee their homes. We're talking about 6.8 to 6.9 million people who became refugees abroad, with over a million finding shelter in Poland alone. Another 3.6 to 3.7 million are displaced within Ukraine itself, living in makeshift shelters or with relatives far from home.
Cities like Mariupol have become synonymous with devastation. In March 2022, Russian forces bombed a theater where hundreds of civilians—including children—were sheltering. The word "CHILDREN" had been written in large letters outside the building, visible from the air. It didn't matter.
The UN estimates that over 2.5 million housing units in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed. Picture families facing harsh Eastern European winters without heat, electricity, or even basic shelter. Picture mothers trying to comfort terrified children in bomb shelters and subway stations.
How the Church Responded
But here's where the story takes a remarkable turn. Almost immediately after the invasion began, something beautiful happened: the global Church mobilized like few times in recent history.
Within hours—literally hours—of the first attacks, Baptist churches across Europe were sending relief convoys toward the border. Hungarian Baptist Aid trucks crossed into Ukraine carrying supplies. Polish churches started stacking pews against walls to make room for mattresses. Romanian Christians opened their homes to complete strangers. Even a small Baptist hospital in Moldova began treating wounded refugees.
Catholic Caritas agencies have been "at the forefront" since February 2022, providing medical care, social services, and spiritual support to the most vulnerable. Aid to the Church in Need reports spending over €25 million on humanitarian and pastoral projects, supporting everything from displaced families to priests who stayed behind to care for their flocks.
One observer noted that churches seemed to "awaken from their COVID slumber" as they welcomed Ukrainian mothers and children with food, blankets, and shelter. It was the Good Samaritan parable playing out on a massive scale.
Think about that for a moment. While politicians debated and military leaders strategized, ordinary Christians were already acting. They saw people in desperate need and responded with the love of Christ. No committee meetings required. No lengthy theological debates about just war theory. Just neighbors helping neighbors because that's what Jesus taught them to do.
Why This Matters: Wrestling with Justice and Peace
Now, this is where things get complicated for us as Christians. The Ukraine crisis forces us to grapple with some really difficult questions:
When is it right to use military force?
How do we balance Jesus' command to "turn the other cheek" with the need to protect the innocent?
What does it mean to love our enemies when those enemies are committing atrocities?
How do we pursue both justice and mercy in a world full of violence?
These aren't just academic questions. They have life-and-death implications for millions of people.
The Question of Defensive Force
Let's start with something that might surprise you: the Bible doesn't condemn all use of force. In Romans 13:1-4, Paul explains that God has established governing authorities as His servants to maintain order, even "bearing the sword" to punish evildoers. This isn't just about police work—it extends to a government's responsibility to defend its people.
Over the centuries, Christians have developed what's called "just war theory" to help us think through when military action might be morally justified. The basic criteria include:
Just cause: There must be "lasting, grave, and certain" harm being done by an aggressor
Last resort: All other means (diplomacy, sanctions, etc.) must have been tried and failed
Right intention: The goal must be peace and justice, not revenge or conquest
Proportionality: The response can't create worse evils than it prevents
Reasonable chance of success: It's immoral to unleash the violence of war when objectives can't realistically be achieved
Looking at Ukraine through this lens, many Christians see a clear case of just defense. Russia launched an unprovoked attack on a sovereign nation. Ukraine tried diplomatic solutions for years before the invasion. Their goal is simply to protect their people and restore their territorial integrity.
But just war theory also includes warnings. Even when force is justified, it must be used with restraint. The goal should always be a just and lasting peace, not total victory at any cost. And we must always remember that every life lost—Russian or Ukrainian—is a tragedy.
The Call to Show Mercy
At the same time, the Gospel calls us to something beyond politics and military strategy: radical compassion for all who suffer.
Remember Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan? A man was beaten and left for dead on the road. Religious leaders passed by without helping, but a Samaritan—someone from a despised ethnic group—stopped to care for the victim. He didn't ask about the man's nationality, politics, or religion. He saw someone in need and responded with compassion.
Luke tells us the Samaritan "had compassion" and went to great lengths to care for the wounded stranger. By implication, Christians must actively aid anyone fleeing violence, treating them with dignity and love regardless of their background.
This is exactly what we've seen churches doing. They haven't asked Ukrainian refugees about their theology or politics before offering help. They've simply seen people in desperate need and opened their hearts and homes.
Balancing Truth and Love
Here's what I find profound about the Christian response to Ukraine: it demonstrates that we don't have to choose between justice and mercy. We can support Ukraine's right to defend itself while simultaneously caring for all victims of the war—including Russian prisoners, conscripts, and civilians who suffer under their own government's actions.
Psalm 46 declares that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." We trust that God is near to all who suffer, regardless of which side of the border they're on. The Bible recognizes legitimate defense (Romans 13), but it also repeatedly commands care for the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:18) and entrusts ultimate vengeance to God (Romans 12:19).
This means we can pray for Ukrainian victory while also praying for Russian repentance. We can support military aid while also supporting humanitarian relief. We can condemn aggression while also showing compassion to all who are caught in its wake.
What This Teaches Us About Following Jesus
The Ukraine crisis has taught me something important about what it means to be a Christian in a broken world. It's easy to follow Jesus when the moral choices are simple and the costs are low. It's much harder when you're forced to choose between competing goods or accept that there are no perfect solutions.
But look at how the Church has responded. Instead of getting paralyzed by theological debates, Christians have led with love. They've fed the hungry, housed the homeless, and comforted the grieving. They've embodied the gospel in the most practical ways possible.
At the same time, many Christians have wrestled thoughtfully with questions of justice and peace. They've refused to accept easy answers or partisan talking points. They've tried to think biblically about complex moral issues.
That's exactly what we should be doing. We follow a Savior who was both "gentle and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29) and who cleansed the temple with righteous anger (John 2:13-16). Jesus calls us to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16)—thoughtful about strategy but pure in motivation.
How We Can Respond Today
So what does all this mean for us practically? How can we live out both justice and mercy in response to the Ukraine crisis?
Support Refugees Directly
If you live in a country that's hosting Ukrainian refugees, consider getting involved in sponsorship or host programs. In the United States, initiatives like "Uniting for Ukraine" have enabled individuals and churches to welcome fleeing families directly. American sponsors have provided not just housing, but "safety and community" to newcomers escaping violence.
Even if you can't host a family, you can support those who do. Many churches have become unofficial community centers for refugees, offering English classes, job placement help, counseling, and simple friendship. These aren't just nice gestures—they're lifelines for people trying to rebuild their lives in a foreign country.
Give Wisely and Generously
There are countless organizations providing humanitarian aid in Ukraine and neighboring countries. Catholic Caritas agencies, Orthodox relief networks, Baptist international ministries, and many others are buying supplies, equipping host centers, and providing medical care.
The key is to give to organizations you trust. Look for transparency in their operations, endorsements from local churches, and clear evidence that donations actually reach those in need. A little research can ensure your money makes a real difference.
Pray with Purpose
This might sound obvious, but prayer is actually one of the most important things we can do. Pray for peace, yes, but also pray specifically:
For local pastors and congregations in Ukraine who've stayed to serve their communities despite the danger
For refugees settling around the world, that God would provide jobs, schools, and community
For children who've experienced trauma, that they would find healing and hope
For political leaders making decisions that affect millions of lives
For Russian families whose sons have been sent to fight in an unjust war
Aid to the Church in Need reports that Ukrainian priests and ministers rely heavily on outside support to continue their ministries. Your prayers and gifts literally keep churches functioning in war zones.
Practice Radical Hospitality
Even if you're nowhere near a refugee resettlement area, you can still practice the spirit of the Good Samaritan. Look for the displaced and vulnerable in your own community. Welcome newcomers for meals. Help international students or immigrant families. Send care packages to areas of need.
Remember, Jesus said that whatever we do for "the least of these," we do for Him (Matthew 25:40). Every act of kindness toward a stranger reflects the heart of God.
Hold Justice and Mercy Together
Finally, resist the temptation to choose sides in a way that abandons either justice or compassion. You can support Ukraine's right to defend itself while also calling for restraint and accountability. You can condemn Russian aggression while also praying for the Russian people who are also victims of their government's choices.
This isn't moral relativism—it's the complexity of living in a fallen world where every human being is made in God's image, even when some are doing terrible things.
Looking Toward Hope
As I write this, the war in Ukraine continues with no clear end in sight. The suffering is real, the stakes are high, and the solutions remain elusive. It would be easy to despair or to retreat into simple answers that ignore the complexity of the situation.
But here's what gives me hope: watching how the global Church has responded. I've seen Christians risk their lives to deliver aid to besieged cities. I've seen elderly Polish women welcome Ukrainian children as if they were their own grandchildren. I've seen Baptist churches in Moldova and Catholic parishes in Romania work together seamlessly because the need was too great for denominational divisions.
I've seen the kingdom of God breaking through in a thousand small acts of love.
Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9). Peacemaking isn't just about ending conflicts—though that's certainly part of it. It's about bringing God's shalom—His perfect peace and justice—into broken places.
Sometimes that means supporting those who resist evil. Sometimes it means caring for victims regardless of which side they're on. Sometimes it means having hard conversations about when force is justified and when it isn't. Always it means choosing love over hate, hope over despair, and the way of the cross over the way of the world.
The Ukraine crisis won't last forever. But the principles it's teaching us about following Jesus in a complicated world—those are lessons we'll need for the rest of our lives. May we learn them well.
A Prayer for Peace and Justice
Lord of all nations, you are our refuge and strength in times of war and uncertainty. We lift up the people of Ukraine to you: comfort those under attack, preserve the lives of the innocent, and give courage to those defending the oppressed. Hear our cries for peace—for an end to violence that is both just and lasting.
Grant wisdom and restraint to world leaders, that military action may truly protect the innocent and stop aggression without unleashing greater evils. Help us remember that you have established authorities to maintain justice, but also that ultimate victory belongs to you alone.
We pray for the millions displaced by this conflict: be their shelter and their hope. Show your love through communities that welcome refugees with open arms. May Christian churches near and far follow the Good Samaritan's example, caring for neighbors in desperate need.
Strengthen the churches in Ukraine and border countries—priests, pastors, and ordinary believers who are feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, and proclaiming hope amid suffering. Let the Gospel shine brightly in the darkness of this conflict.
Above all, God of all peoples, turn hearts and politics toward your justice and mercy. Jesus taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Give us that grace: to pray for Russians as well as Ukrainians, that chains of hatred might be broken and that we might remember Christ's death and resurrection offer redemption for all.
Until peace comes, let your people cling to hope, serve the hurting, and shine with your compassion. We trust that you are working all things together for good, even in the midst of this darkness.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
