Training of Ukrainian chaplains took place in Great Britain for the first time. A group of 10 soldiers completed the two-week course.
The press service of the British government writes about it.
Ukrainian chaplains interned at the Chaplaincy Department of the Royal British Army to learn more about providing care, spiritual support and moral guidance during military operations and post-war reconstruction.
"Now they will go to the front line of Ukraineʼs conflict with Russia, where their task will be to instill hope and restore morale in the troops fighting for the return of Ukraineʼs sovereign territory," the message reads.
In total, 160 chaplains currently work in the Ukrainian chaplaincy service. There are plans to expand their number to 738 people to provide support to the military at the front, in hospitals and training centers.
- In 2018, the Ministry of Defense announced a shortage of military chaplains. Chaplain service in the Armed Forces was then understaffed by almost 40%. A year later, the Ministry of Internal Affairs informed that the National Police, the State Border Service, the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations would have their own chaplaincy services.
- In May 2021, the Verkhovna Rada approved the law on the creation of the Military Chaplain Service. On November 30, the MPs finally adopted the law in the second reading and in general, and in December it was signed by the President Volodymyr Zelensky.