Auxiliary Bishop of Kyiv: God has already planned day of peace in Ukraine

By Svitlana Dukhovych

Christmas and New Year's celebrations in Ukraine were marked by the tragic consequences of a massive air attack launched by Russian forces on 29 December, involving about 160 missiles and drones.

In total, nearly 120 cities and villages and hundreds of civilian structures were damaged in the attack, killing around 50 people.

The highest number of civilian casualties occurred in Kyiv, where the death toll from Russian missiles rose to 28 after rescuers pulled more bodies from the rubble on the morning of Sunday, 31 December, on Monday, 1 January.

According to the Mayor, Vitali Klitschko, the 29 December attack on the Ukrainian capital was the largest in terms of civilian casualties since the war began. New Year’s Day was declared a day of mourning in Kyiv.

Bishop Yazlovetskiy: ‘Difficult to even discuss it’

In an interview with Vatican News, Bishop Oleksandr Yazlovetskiy, Auxiliary Bishop of the Latins of the Kyiv-Zhytomyr Diocese, described the events of that tragic Friday morning.

“Many people here woke up to very powerful explosions,” he said, noting that many people usually do not go to shelters during air raids, which are frequent in the capital.

However, he said, this time “everyone realized that there had not been such a powerful bombing for a long time, and then the media started reporting the figures, and it became clear that this bombing was really massive.”

The Bishop pointed out that, according to estimates by Ukrainian media, Russia spent $1.27 billion on these bombings.

“So, imagine how much money was spent. And for what? For terror, intimidation, and oppression of the people here,” he emphasized. After the attack, photos of its consequences appeared in Kyiv and the number of dead and injured began to rise.

“As you know, in Ukraine, officially only the data of civilian deaths are reported, but soldiers, people working in military enterprises, also die. There are losses throughout Ukraine. It's hard to even talk about it,” the Bishop said.

Caritas: a drop in the ocean, but still important

Bishop Yazlovetsky, who is also the president of Caritas Spes, talks about the main activities carried out in recent months.

“As for this bombing, no special actions were needed on our part,” he said. “In general, as Caritas, both of the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Catholic Church, we continue to implement the projects already started and to work on new projects. We are glad that we can participate in the reconstruction of homes for victims in some locations alongside large state or charitable organizations. Of course, it's a drop in the ocean and destruction is continuously repeated, as you can see. But, drop by drop, we continue to support these people and give them hope.”

Bishop Yazlovetsky said he recently visited Vasylkiv, near Kyiv, to visit almost thirty internally displaced people who live in a house run by Caritas.

“They came from the east and most of them have nothing left,” he said, adding that he spoke with them and then celebrated Mass for them.

Assistance of Caritas Spes

Bishop Yazlovetsky explained that, in addition to reconstruction activities, Caritas Spes continues to provide food parcels to the needy, supports the activities of social kitchens in various locations, and provides people with vouchers for medicines.

“There are many projects, and I am especially grateful to the Caritas network, especially in Europe and the United States, which helps us,” he said. “Without them, we would not be able to do all this; they have not abandoned us.”

Speaking of general support for Ukraine, many organizations have grown weary and turned their attention elsewhere.

Bishop Yazlovetsky said his friends from abroad have begun to notice that Ukraine shows up less and less in the news.

“Certainly, there are still generous and sensitive people, especially among Christians, but if we are not talked about, they turn their attention to other regions,” he said.

The president of Caritas Spes noted that humanitarian aid is starting to dry up, since border crossings of large trucks have become more problematic.

“In the case of Caritas or other organizations,” he said. “I see that they focus more on projects where they receive financial support and buy the necessary things here, on the spot, and distribute them to the needy. So, it's project-based assistance. Of course, this activity is monitored and reported in great detail, so everything is much more complicated. It is necessary to have staff capable of managing all this from an administrative standpoint.”

Mutual support of clergy and faithful

As a new year begins, leaving behind 2023 which brought much suffering to the Ukrainian people, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Kyiv-Zhytomyr Diocese shares his thoughts on the strength that he personally, but also the clergy in general, receives from standing by the people to help them.

“The role of bishops and clergy in general is very important in these difficult moments, because people need a good word and especially the word of God, because from God we can get true comfort,” said Bishop Yazlovetsky. “This happens in two ways: the clergy support those who want to be supported, because we have many believers in Ukraine, but on the other hand, the people also support the clergy, because being ordinary people, despite the difficulties and pain that the war has brought to their families, they continue to believe, to pray, to help, and to support the military. That's why we also get inspiration from the example of these people and then, sometimes, we tell these stories that we see.”

People continue to trust in God and cling to Him

During Christmas, many pastors struggled to find the right word to address the faithful in such a difficult moment.

After almost two years of war, priests and bishops wondered what they should focus on in their Christmas homilies.

“For me, personally, it was a great comfort to think that God does not forget His people, does not forget humanity in general, does not forget the chosen people to whom He promised the Messiah,” he said. “I talked about this: God has not forgotten us, seeing our pain, because He has already come to help us. God has already planned the day of victory, of peace, which will come. Many Ukrainians are praying, many people abroad assure us that they are praying for us. This message that God has not forgotten us is important. Fortunately, many Christians are aware of this and are not discouraged, they believe in it and continue to pray. A clear sign of this was the fact that people in our country continue to cling to God. Where else can we expect help if not from Him?”

Orthodox faithful joined Catholic Christmas Mass

The Bishop said that at Christmas, as many priests have told him, the churches were full of people.

“Priests were surprised, and said that before the war there weren't as many people in the churches as there are now. Then they realized that many Orthodox faithful came, especially from the Church that does not celebrate Christmas on 25 December. The fact that the churches are full indicates that our people continue to trust in God, continue to cling to Him, and continue to pray. And this is the most important thing. Because all of us will gradually rebuild Ukraine, but if God is lost, then it is very difficult to find the way back to Him.”