UGCC Head in Week 178 of War: Enemy Seeks to Paralyze Ukraine’s Will to Resist
But the more the enemy frightens us, the more the world supports us. The deeper death looks into the eyes of Ukrainians, the brighter God’s light shines in the darkness of the night. This was said by the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, in his traditional video address in the 178th week of the Russian Federation’s grave war against Ukraine.
The Primate noted that we have long been counting not days or weeks, but years of the brutal war that Russia unleashed against Ukraine back in 2014. And the last week will undoubtedly go down in history as a period of unprecedented and unheard-of escalation.
He said that June was probably the bloodiest month for Ukraine’s civilians since the full-scale invasion started, with almost 350 people killed and thousands wounded.
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Video-message of the Head of the UGCC on the 178th Week of Full-Scale War, July 13, 2025
“It seems,” said the spiritual leader, “that the enemy is waging war not so much against the Ukrainian army as against the entire Ukrainian people. He seeks to intimidate us with night attacks, force us to flee the country, and provoke a new wave of refugees, emigrants, and internally displaced persons.”
“The enemy is attempting to paralyze Ukraine’s very will to resist. But the closer death looks into the eyes of Ukrainians, the brighter God’s light shines in the darkness of the night. And we declare once again to the whole world: Ukraine stands! Ukraine fights! Ukraine prays!” added His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
At the same time, this week was also a week illuminated by God’s light: “First of all, this week marked the conclusion of the Synod of our bishops, which took place in the Eternal City. This Synod was unique, even historic, because we felt that God’s power runs through the veins of our Church, and it is becoming an active player in international relations—more refined and effective. Our Church is not only the voice of Ukraine and its people—it also serves in a real way—healing the wounds of war.”
The bishops of the Synod met with representatives of the Italian government: Deputy Prime Minister Montavani, the ministers of health, culture, environment and energy, foreign affairs, as well as the director of the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital.
“We saw that the Italian government recognizes the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church as a real partner in the reconstruction of Ukraine,” said the Head of the Church.
The UGCC Department for Information
