
Light After the Explosions
Missile strikes on residential areas and critical infrastructure have reshaped everyday life in urban centers across Ukraine, including Lviv and Ternopil in the west and Fastiv, a rail hub in the central Kyiv region. In each of the three cities, local responded within hours of the attacks, working with residents and other volunteer networks to clear rubble, support affected families and assist the wounded.

Making Room for Childhood
The war in Ukraine has had a profound impact on the country’s educational system. Recently the Knights helped to restore a Catholic kindergarten in Ivano-Frankivsk; rebuild a catechetical school in Lviv after a missile attack; and construct a new playground in Kharkiv, a city near the front lines.

A Quiet Strength
As Knights of Columbus in Ukraine have stepped up to coordinate humanitarian assistance, serve families affected by the war, and sustain parish life, the quiet work of Ukraine’s women aids their efforts. “We support each other so that our families become stronger, our faith deeper, and the service each of us carries out – in our own way – more fruitful,” said Tetiana Mazur, wife of Ukraine State Treasurer Myroslav Mazur.

‘Only Mercy Can Bring Peace’
A conversation with Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, a former papal almoner, about the work of the dicastery in Rome and Ukraine, the role of charity in the Christian life, and the prospects for peace in Ukraine, the Holy Land and throughout the world. Following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Cardinal Krajewski made several trips to the war-ravaged country as a representative of Pope Francis.

Standing Together Against Indifference
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, support from the Vatican’s humanitarian missions has been ongoing, integrated closely with the untiring efforts of the Knights of Columbus. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, former papal almoner and newly appointed archbishop of Łódź, Poland, has visited Ukraine more than a dozen times since the outbreak of the war in 2022. “Every time he came here, Cardinal Krajewski showed support from his side for the actions of the Knights in Ukraine,” said Past State Deputy of Ukraine Yuriy Maletskiy.

Light in the Darkness
With support from the Supreme Council, the Ukraine State Council launched the Powering Our Parishes program in 2023 to transform church buildings into “Mercy Centers” – communal hubs where residents can find warmth and electricity during blackouts. Over the past three years, the initiative has delivered 161 generators throughout Ukraine, including 29 units distributed this year.