Ukraine at War – Update 24, 2025

Unshakable Faith

What do you do when war takes away your home – twice? For one Ukrainian family, the answer was unexpected: they worshiped God.

Hi Stepan, war has brought deep pain and destruction across Ukraine. Yet even among the ruins, beauty and faith rise up – refusing to die.

Pastor and military chaplain Mark Sergeev and his family are all too familiar with this reality. They lost their home once in occupied Melitopol in southeast Ukraine when the war began, and again when a Russian missile destroyed their home in Kyiv, last weekend.

But instead of giving in to despair, they chose worship. Surrounded by devastation, Mark’s family and fellow believers lifted their voices in praise to God.

This short video captures the unbreakable spirit of Ukrainians who are transforming pain into strength, tragedy into resilience, and ruins into a witness of love, faith, and beauty.

A Summer of Healing & Hope

This past summer, thanks to your generosity, nearly 6,000 children were able to attend HART & partner churches’ camps across Ukraine!

For many, these were children carrying heavy burdens – refugees from the war zones, separated from fathers and brothers at the front lines, some grieving the loss of their fathers, and most deeply scarred by the trauma of war.

Thanks to you, they experienced something extraordinary: days far from the sounds of sirens and shelling, in a safe and nurturing environment where laughter returned, friendships blossomed, and healing began. Surrounded by caring staff, Christian counselors, and peers who understood their pain, children rediscovered joy in simple moments of play, song, and learning.

These camps were not just about fun – they were about transformation. The early years of a child’s life are critical, and trauma can leave lasting scars. But your investment made sure that, instead of being defined by loss, these young lives are being reshaped by love, hope, and Christ-centered care.

Because of you, thousands of stories are being rewritten – from brokenness to restoration, from silence to joy. Your support has given Ukraine’s children more than a summer memory – you have given them a foundation of healing and hope for the future.

Help us equip our partner churches to keep nurturing and discipling the children who are attending church after their summer camp experiences.

Prisoner of War Exchanges

What this process is like for the soldiers.

From time to time, Ukraine rejoices as groups of prisoners of war are returned home. For many Ukrainian soldiers, some held in captivity since 2022, the moment of release feels almost unreal.

They describe the first breath of free air as both a joy and a weight. Joy – because they are finally home. Weight – because they return with memories of suffering, of comrades left behind, and of years stolen from their youth. Gratitude overflows – to God, to their country, to those who never stopped fighting for their freedom – but it mingles with the scars of trauma and the silent grief of time lost.

Their courage in enduring captivity becomes a testimony of resilience, but freedom itself is bittersweet until every last prisoner is brought home.

What this process is like for the families.

For mothers, fathers, spouses, and children waiting, each prisoner exchange is a day of trembling hope.

Some experience the miracle of reunion: hugs that erase years of separation, tears of joy that feel like a life beginning anew. Others wait in agony, scanning the names and faces, only to realize their loved one is not yet among the freed.

That moment is filled with both deep sorrow and unyielding determination – because hope must continue until the day all are returned. Every exchange is both healing and heartbreaking, a reminder of love’s endurance in the face of injustice.

Please pray that all prisoners are reunited with their families.

Where things stand

• Escalation in intensity: Russia is using larger swarms of drones + missiles, pushing to degrade Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure ahead of winter.
• Ukraine pushing back: Through more aggressive counter-strikes deep in Russian territory, especially targeting energy and ammunition nodes, Ukraine is trying to shift the cost burden.
• Territorial changes are limited but real: Russian gains continue, though with fluctuation week to week. Gains have spiked and then cooled.
• Civilian suffering ongoing: Russia’s pattern of targeting infrastructure, soft targets, and indirect civilian harm persists.
• Diplomacy stalling: Peace initiatives remain blocked by fundamental disagreements over territory and recognition. Russia’s posture is combative, not conciliatory.
• Russia under strain: Logistical and resource pressures are mounting, though not yet decisive.