Russian Invasion of Ukraine
A briefing and resource for reflection, discussion and action
Produced by the Joint Public Issues Team of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church, July 2023
The conflict in Ukraine after Russia’s invasion in February 2022 is a tragedy that continues to devastate the lives of millions of people. The Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches seek to be attentive to the concerns of all people in Russia and Ukraine affected by the war, be they fighting, suffering, offering aid or seeking refuge.
The shocking return of conflict in Europe has brought war closer to home, and yet in the UK most of us still only see its effects second-hand, through media or the accounts of those from Ukraine who have come to the UK for safety. Many might feel that action should be taken against the unjust aggression of President Putin, and yet are unclear exactly what this should look like. Members of our three denominations approach the topic of war and peace from a diverse range of perspectives. The intention of this briefing is not to privilege any one particular response, but to support people in reflecting on the questions prompted by the conflict.
The briefing begins with an overview of the causes and costs of the war, contextualised in Christian thinking. It then explores the topics of sanctions, nuclear weapons and the implications of the war. The briefing then looks at ecumenical relations between our denominations and the Orthodox churches of Russia and Ukraine. Finally, the briefing concludes with a call to action, thinking through how as individuals and as church communities we might respond to the ongoing fighting in Ukraine.
10 Minutes On: Ukraine – Looking Ahead - Listen to JPIT's podcast as Steve and Hannah take 10 minutes to reflect on the war in Ukraine, and what might be ahead.