Peacemakers Network Accompanies Ukrainian Religious Communities in the Time of War

October 2025

Representatives of the Peacemakers Network, FCA, and FCA Ukraine, with Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations. October 2025.

Executive leadership from the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers (Peacemakers Network) visited Ukraine to meet religious organizations, government agencies, and other key stakeholders for interfaith cooperation. The visit was a continuity of the Peacemakers Network’s support to Ukrainian religious communities as they reflect on and respond to the challenges of war.

As part of the visit, the Peacemakers Network, in partnership with its Ukrainian member Dialogue in Action, launched a new initiative bringing together Ukrainian faith-based changemakers to jointly reflect present situation and evolving dynamics with a goal to strengthen interfaith collaboration in fostering a culture of dialogue and social cohesion. The initiative emphasizes supporting Ukraine’s societal resilience and unity during these challenging times, complementing the initiatives the religious communities in Ukraine are leading for the benefit of community and society. During the launch event of the new initiative, Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi, Executive Director of the Peacemakers Network, emphasized the broader vision of the collaboration: “This [collaboration] is not about only responding to war, it is about creating a more inclusive and peaceful future for Ukraine and the broader region,” he said in his opening remarks.

Dr. Elsanousi, accompanied by a delegation comprised of Finn Church Aid and the Peacemakers Network, met with religious organizations, state officials, international organizations, and civil society actors to discuss state of play, current issues that need to be addressed and strategies for promoting interfaith cooperation and supporting Ukrainian communities, including with Olena Kovalska, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. They discussed the state of religious freedom in Ukraine, the challenges faced by believers in occupied territories, and the role of people of all faiths in resisting Russia’s war against Ukraine.

During the meeting with Deputy Head Kovalska, the delegation briefed her on Finn Church Aid’s ongoing education initiatives in Ukraine, which aim to ensure disruptions of war. FCA’s suport – including renovating vocational schools, providing equipment and school shelters, implementing catch-up programs, and supporting the New Ukrainian School reform – was recognized as a vital contribution to Ukraine’s societal resilience and long-term recovery.

Representatives of the Peacemakers Network, FCA Ukraine, and State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience and Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine met to discuss Ukraine’s religious plurality, and the important role religious organizations carry in society during crisis. October 2025. Photo Credit: The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS).

In addition, the Peacemakers Network met with Victor Yelensky, Chairman of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience and Bodhan Movchan, Deputy Head Division for Global Ukrainian community and Humanitarian Initiatives and Head of the Humanitarian Initiatives Unit at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Yelensky thanked the Peacemakers Network their support for Ukraine and spoke about the diversity and plurality of faiths in the country. He noted that the churches and religious organizations of Ukraine have very large-scale social projects and their contribution in resilience and resistance is crucial.

Further, meetings with the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO)demonstrated practices of interfaith cooperation in Ukraine, showcasing the spiritual and humanitarian contributions of churches and religious organizations in Ukraine during the ongoing war.

In most meetings, stakeholders emphasized the importance of interfaith cooperation, as well as collaboration with civil society and authorities to promote peace, stability, and security. They also warmly welcomed the Peacemakers Network’s ongoing commitment to supporting Ukrainian religious leaders and actors in these efforts.

Through this visit, the Peacemakers Network reaffirmed its unwavering solidarity with Ukraine and its commitment to supporting interfaith initiatives that promote dialogue, cooperation, and societal resilience amid ongoing challenges. 

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