Summer 2026
Reflections from Ukraine
At 9:00 every morning, Ukraine comes to a standstill.
Traffic on city streets and highways stops. Pedestrians pause wherever they are. Offices, schools, factories, and businesses fall silent as people stand at attention.
Across the nation, hand on heart, the National Anthem is played, and millions observe a National Minute of Silence to honor those who have given their lives defending Ukraine and all those who have been killed as a result of the war.
For sixty seconds, a country at war sets everything aside to remember the tremendous cost of freedom. It is an extraordinarily powerful daily statement: Our ordinary lives continue only because others gave their lives—and they will not be forgotten.
PRAY FOR UKRAINE – PRAY FOR PEACE.
BECAUSE YOU SUPPORT CHAPLAINS
What Warms a Soldier’s Heart?
During a recent conversation with one of HART’s chaplains who regularly travels to frontline communities, we asked him a simple question:
“What means the most to the soldiers you visit?”
These chaplains deliver practical supplies—food, hygiene kits, clothing, medical items, and other essentials—to both civilians and soldiers living in the midst of war.
While every item is deeply appreciated, his answer surprised us. “The gifts they treasure most,” he said, “are the drawings and paintings made by children.” Whether created by students in a classroom or children in a Sunday school, these simple expressions of love have an extraordinary impact.
Seasoned soldiers—men who have witnessed the horrors of war—often become emotional and openly weep as they read the handwritten notes and unfold the colourful pictures.
These precious paintings are carefully tucked into backpacks, taped to bunker walls, or displayed wherever the soldiers have made their temporary “home.” In the darkest places, they become a reminder of what they are fighting to protect: children, families, hope, and a future.
Sometimes the smallest gifts carry the greatest encouragement. A child’s drawing says what words often cannot: “We haven’t forgotten you. Thank you. We’re praying for you. Come home safely.”
Please pray for all those who defend Ukraine and the volunteer chaplains who go into harm’s way to serve them in Jesus’ name.
How Do You Preach Hope in a Time of War?
NOTE: Andriy Korniychuk is the Regional Pastor for the state/province of Rivne & a HART partner for 15 years.
During a conversation with Pastor Andriy, HART’s President Lloyd Cenaiko asked him the following question:
How do you preach hope to your congregation while your country is at war and so many have lost sons, husbands, and fathers?
His answer was both simple and profound, and may help someone you know make sense of suffering.
VIDEOS
Summer Camps in Ukraine
These are the sounds of hope. Because of your generosity, thousands of children across Ukraine are experiencing the joy of summer camp. Thank you for helping write their stories.
Russian Missile hits public pool
Extraordinary moment as a Russian bomb hits a public swimming pool. Obviously not a military target. Miraculously, no one was injured.
Drone-Proofing a Church
As one team watches for approaching drones, others carefully stretch a protective net over the church—a new reality of worship in a nation at war.
THANKS TO YOU
One Small Church With an Extraordinary Impact
Meeting with Pastor Rostislav is always inspiring. Although he pastors a relatively small rural church, its impact during this war has been nothing short of extraordinary.
When Russia’s full-scale invasion began, Pastor Rostislav and his congregation asked a simple question: “What can we do to help?”
Their answer was to begin preparing nutritious, ready-to-eat food packages for the tens of thousands of refugees pouring into western Ukraine.
What started as a local response quickly grew into something much bigger. Soon, the church was producing thousands of food packages for chaplains serving civilians and Ukrainian soldiers in some of the country’s most dangerous frontline communities.
As HART became the ministry’s largest financial partner, Pastor Rostislav surprised us one day with a redesigned food package. Printed prominently on every label was the HART logo—a simple but meaningful expression of gratitude for a partnership that has helped feed countless people throughout the war.
But Pastor Rostislav isn’t just thinking about today’s needs. Just a few kilometres from his church sits a former Soviet-era camp property that he has leased for more than fifty years. He has an exciting vision to transform it into a thriving Christian camp and retreat centre—a place where children, families, pastors, and church leaders can experience rest, healing, discipleship, and hope.
During our recent visit, I shared HART’s long-term vision for our Mobile Home Project. Today, these homes are providing temporary shelter for families whose houses have been destroyed by the war. But one day, when they are no longer needed for emergency housing, our dream is to relocate them to Christian campgrounds across Ukraine, where they can serve as cabins for children and families for decades to come.
Before I could even finish explaining the idea, Pastor Rostislav’s face lit up.
With a huge smile he exclaimed, “I’ll take ten!” Then he stopped, laughed, and quickly corrected himself. “No… no… I’ll need fifteen!”
His enthusiasm reminded me of something important. While today’s crisis demands emergency solutions, we must also be preparing for tomorrow.
One day, the very mobile homes that now shelter families from the devastation of war could become places where children meet Christ, families are restored, future ministry leaders are discipled, and generations discover the hope of the Gospel.
That is the beauty of investing in God’s Kingdom. What serves an emergency today can become a lasting legacy tomorrow.
VIDEO
Kharkiv. A Chronicle of Survival
This documentary explores the story of Kharkiv: from its historical roots and the impact of the Revolution of Dignity (Euromaidan) to the full-scale Russian invasion and the everyday reality of life during the war.
VIDEO
Why Ukrainian strikes on annexed Crimea are a blow to Putin
A resident inside Crimea has told the BBC the situation there is “catastrophic”, as Ukrainian drones strike oil refineries and power plants on the peninsula, as well as military targets.
The strikes on Russian-annexed Crimea have increased significantly in recent weeks – partly to cut off supply lines to Russian troops attacking Ukraine from the south.
Eastern Europe correspondent Sarah Rainsford explains why Kyiv is striking now and why the peninsula matters to Vladimir Putin personally.
Ukraine Is Redefining Modern Warfare – and the delivery of relief aid through local churches
The recent Wall Street Journal opinion article “Ukraine Is Redefining Modern Warfare” argues that Ukraine has become the world’s leading laboratory for military innovation. Forced to fight a much larger adversary with limited resources, Ukraine has rapidly developed new ways of fighting that are already influencing how NATO and other militaries think about future conflicts. Continue to SUMMARY of article.
Connections to HART’s work in Ukraine?
Because our HART Team regularly visits and/or receives partner church reports from across Ukraine, this article helps explain what many pastors and chaplains are witnessing firsthand.
The conflict is no longer defined only by trenches and artillery. It is increasingly shaped by:
- constant drone surveillance
- precision strikes far behind the front lines
- attacks on infrastructure
- electronic warfare
- and rapidly changing technology
These realities help explain why civilians continue living under frequent air raid sirens, why electrical infrastructure remains under threat, and why humanitarian work requires tremendous flexibility.
HART’s local church partners have had to adapt just as quickly—altering aid routes, changing summer camp locations, responding to displaced families, and continuing ministry despite an environment that can change in minutes.
Pray Together with Your Church, Family, and Friends for:
- A just and lasting peace — that light would overcome darkness.
- Defenders, veterans, prisoners, and their families — for strength, protection, and hope.
- Christians and non-believers in occupied territories — for endurance under persecution.
- The safe return of kidnapped children & healing for broken families.
- Comfort for the grieving & restoration for the wounded.
- Protection of cities, villages, and civilians from relentless attacks.
- Global perseverance in standing with Ukraine during this long struggle.
- Wisdom and courage for world leaders as they confront tyranny.
