More than two and a half years into the Russian invasion, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has suffered devastating losses, with over half of its parishes in occupied regions forced to close. Bishop Maksym Ryabukha of the Donetsk exarchate revealed this alarming statistic in an interview with Italian daily Avvenire, describing the situation as “increasingly worrying.”
The war, which began in February 2022, has destroyed churches and the displacement of faithful. In areas under Russian control, such as Pokrovsk, Mirnohrad, and Kostiantynivka, churches have been stripped of liturgical furnishings, pews, and adornments. Bishop Ryabukha’s diocese is divided by over 300 miles of trenches, with many priests forced to flee or go into hiding.
Despite the perilous conditions, Bishop Ryabukha reported that priests continue to minister to the remaining population and visit refugees. However, in Russian-occupied areas, openly practising Catholicism is fraught with danger. “Those who call themselves Catholics disappear: some are shot, others imprisoned,” he said. “Our faithful feel like they’re locked up in a prison.”
The bishop shared the harrowing story of two priests, Bohdan Geleta and Ivan Levitskyi, who were imprisoned for over a year by Russian forces. Their release in June was a testament to the power of prayer, Bishop Ryabukha said.
Bishop Ryabukha regularly visits Ukrainian soldiers, many of whom were ordinary citizens before taking up arms to defend their country. He emphasized the urgent need for peace, saying, “We know the war will end, but we want it to happen as soon as possible, with peace in the name of justice.