Ukrainian chaplains undergo a two-week training program in the UK alongside their British counterparts, as reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

During this training period, chaplains acquire essential knowledge and skills to provide pastoral care, spiritual support, and moral guidance.

They draw from the expertise of the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department, preparing them for duties during military operations and in post-war scenarios.

Additionally, the exchange enables Ukrainian clergy to share experiences with British colleagues from the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department, focusing on meeting the spiritual and religious needs of soldiers in combat situations.

A significant part of the program is aimed at performing chaplaincy service for Ukrainian recruits, who are trained in the basic combined arms training of personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine under the leadership of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Chaplains interacted with military personnel, distributing small icons and offering prayers for peace and Ukraine’s victory.

“Spiritual support for military personnel is important at every stage, both during training and during combat operations,” the General Staff stressed.

In addition, James Thurstan, commander of the INTERFLEX multinational training mission, discussed with Ukrainian clerics the significance of chaplain support for military personnel during wartime.

“The ability to provide pastoral care, spiritual support and moral guidance made chaplain service an extremely important capability for Ukrainian commanders. There is a need for chaplains and it is truly an honor to be asked to support them in furthering their understanding of their wartime role. We pray that God will bless, protect and guide them when they return to Ukraine,” British chaplains say.

The General Staff emphasized that military chaplains in Ukraine play an extremely important role.

“With their presence, spiritual and moral support, they protect the souls of the fighters and do everything possible to give the soldiers hope while the troops fight for the return of the sovereign territory of Ukraine,” the General Staff stated.

Clergymen not only assist in managing the challenges of war but also instill faith in victory and aid in healing unseen wounds. At the same time, they serve as psychological support for military personnel and their families.

“The importance of chaplains in times of war is difficult to overstate, and their actions are a fertile contribution to the spiritual comfort of the heavy reality of hostilities,” it said.

Recall that the bill “On the Military Chaplaincy Service” No. 4626, which provided for the creation of the Military Chaplaincy Service, was adopted in 2021.