Ukraine: respite for soldiers

Alison Giblett, serving in Kyiv, asks for prayer for a respite ministry for soldiers being run by her church, particularly for respite for active soldiers when away from the frontline. Respite needs include physical care, such as relief for backs and muscles, nutrition and spiritual support. Please pray for the chaplains as they stand alongside the soldiers, build relationships and share the gospel. Please pray for vision to meet the huge need for respite centres across Ukraine offering medical, psychological and spiritual support for soldiers.

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There’s one obvious prayer we all want answered for the people and country of Ukraine. Peace. Lasting, trustworthy peace. But, four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war-weary country is still facing daily tragedies.

As a Christian, how do you hold on to the hope and promises of God when there’s devastation all around you? CMS mission partner Alison Giblett shares how answers to daily small prayers and witnessing incredible miracles keep her going as she chooses to keep serving God in Kyiv:

I felt very strongly at the beginning of the war that God was calling me to stay in Ukraine. Although it’s not easy, I do see purpose in me being here. God has given me peace, that if he’s called me to stay, he hasn’t called me to die.

God is strengthening my faith, growing my awareness of how much I need him and increasing my confidence in his ability to protect and provide. And he has given me much work to do!

Widows, orphans and grieving parents

I work closely with a couple who lead a chaplaincy ministry and a ministry to the bereaved women and children in their region. Their youngest son volunteered to fight at the start of the war and God miraculously protected him many times when he was sent on front line assignments. Yet, tragically he was killed in a car crash in Kyiv after returning home.

I’ve developed quite a friendship with them. Standing alongside them in their grief while they still help so many people around them. I love going to their farm to help and to visit the widows and orphans they care for in their local area.

We make regular visits to the villages taking food bags, and offering to pray for people, which is always an encouragement. Our team have built up a good relationship with the local authorities who link them up with the bereaved. I’m encouraged by their faithfulness in prayer and sacrifice, consistently being there for people. We’ve also helped to build bomb shelters and run camps for children who’ve been in occupied territories or who have lost parents.

I am continuing to invest time in learning about trauma recovery. I’ve completed courses focused on releasing people from trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is wonderful to see how God’s Word is just as powerful today to set people free whatever the circumstances.

Many men are turning to alcohol and drugs to medicate their pain, to cope with memories and experiences and numb the constant fear of being on the front line or being called up. There is a growing pastoral need for rehabilitation help.

Hope amid heartbreak

God does not promise that life will be easy but he does promise that he will always be with us, especially when things we can’t bear happen. In times of trouble, he gives us the grace we need to keep going. That is very much our testimony.

None of us would have thought that we would be where we are, or that we would be able to cope as we are. We’re only coping because we press into God and receive his strength. God is our hope. On a very practical and physical level, there isn’t much to give us hope at the moment.

There’s a Bible passage in Ephesians 5:18–20 where Paul is encouraging Christians not to lose hope. He says to speak to each other with psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit. To sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.

The Psalms have been a tremendous encouragement to us. Psalm 91 assures of God’s protection; Psalm 46 is about God’s defence. Psalm 2 and 13 are so helpful in pouring out our woes. We find strength as we pray and worship. Together we look for the things to give thanks for.

I’m far more grateful for many things that I never even thought about before. I pray when I get in the lift in my building, that the power will stay on so I can get out again. I pray going to church in the evening that the metro will still be running so I can get back home. When I put my washing on, I pray that the power will stay on for it to finish.

It’s recognising the ways that God answers our prayers on a daily basis that enables us to keep doing all that we need to do. He enables us to remain positive, to bring hope, strength and encouragement to other people.

Glimpses of grace

A friend of mine’s son, a Christian, works in a power station. One day he had to call in sick. That day it was bombed. Sadly, his colleagues, and the whole power station, was destroyed.

A Christian soldier, a brother of one of our chaplains, was in the army. One day a series of illegal scatter bombs aimed at his group caused them to fall to the ground. He lay beside a large tree trunk; a bomb fell very close to him but on the other side of the trunk leaving him protected. However, his colleagues who were further away, were injured.

Another time, a pastor and his young family who had decided to stay in their town very near the front line were returning to their home. Many young families have understandably moved away from conflict areas. However, they felt that despite their own danger that God had called them to stay and pastor the growing church.

The father had peace that God would protect them, but the young mother couldn’t find that peace. While driving home they were attacked by a drone. It exploded above them causing a huge cloud of metal, dust and stones to envelop their vehicle. They drove through the cloud unharmed. When it was safe, they checked their car – there was not a scratch on it! After that they were both convinced of God’s hand of supernatural protection on them.

Yet another time, a drone attacked one of our chaplains. It literally landed at the front of their chaplaincy vehicle – which churches from England helped to raise money for. The front lights were damaged but they were completely fine. If the drone had been a second behind it would have hit the car and it’s unlikely they would have survived.

Unknowable future, known God

As the war continues, we’re seeing new problems arise. Soldiers returning from conflict are living with multiple injuries and concussions. We don’t know the long-term emotional and physical consequences of so much stress. There are higher numbers of cancer diagnoses, people with ulcers, digestive problems and suffering heart attacks.

We’re responding to needs as they develop in front of us. Next, I’m helping with a rehab conference in the summer and I expect to be doing a lot more with the chaplaincy ministry. There is a growing need for chaplaincy and veteran care to support soldiers’ physical, emotional and spiritual adjustment back to ‘normal life’.

I think so much of mission is about being where God wants us to be and being available while we’re there. I don’t think it always means doing amazing things, but it means being faithful in your situation. Staying sensitive to God’s heart and trusting his word.

We can look at the huge unanswered prayer of an end to this war and feel discouraged. Or, we can look around us at the many, many answers to prayer and choose to worship God through it all.

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Ukraine: for lasting peace, and true hope in the meantime

Mission partner Alison Giblett, who provides spiritual and material care to those in need through her church in Kyiv, asks for prayer for all those caught up in the war to seek God for their strength and peace, and ultimately for an end to the war, and lasting peace. Give thanks for army chaplains from Alison’s church ministering to and sharing hope with hundreds of soldiers, many of whom feel completely hopeless. Pray for renewed hope for all the people of Ukraine.

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Tuesday 24 February 2026 marks four years since Russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine. On this tragic anniversary, we share an update from Alison Giblett, CMS mission partner in Kyiv, Ukraine. 

Alison has been living in Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv since 2004. When Russian forces entered Ukraine on 24 February 2022, she made the bold choice to stay in the country. For the past four years, she has offered practical, spiritual and emotional support to people whose lives have been torn apart by the war, in Kyiv and beyond.

Alison recently shared news from Ukraine. Her update paints a difficult picture of everyday life for war-weary people. But, it also shares hope, testimonies of God at work and answers to prayer. 

The mood is bleak in Kyiv, snow is a foot deep and power is only available 1.5-2 hours a day. Recruitment of people to join the war has gotten harsher, creating a lot of fear. The increase in attacks on the capital city has resulted in much destruction.

But Alison and her church continue to work. To encourage and strengthen people’s faith. 

Such as visiting soldiers with serious wounds. Talking and praying with hospital patients and supporting their families.

Alison is studying a course with Ellel Ministries focused on releasing people from trauma and PTSD. “It is wonderful to see how God’s Word is just as powerful today to set people free, whatever the circumstances.” 

Her training is equipping her with tools and understanding to minister to soldiers and their families. 

“Most of the men who have lost limbs in conflict continue to suffer from phantom pain (pain in the part of the body they no longer have). One of the Ellel trainers, who was praying for such a soldier, felt led to ask him if he had let go of his leg. The answer was no. So, with his agreement, she led him in prayer. They prayed to forgive those who had caused the loss, thanked God for the years that his leg had served him, and then released his leg – accepting that it could no longer support him. Choosing to trust that God would provide for him without it. After praying he testified that the pain had completely gone!”

Alison’s work with CMS continues to shift as the war has changed the landscape and needs of those around her. She dedicates much energy and time to learning more of the Ukrainian language and to developing trauma recovery skills. And she takes part in evangelism visits and volunteering as a chaplain to minister to veteran soldiers and families and widows of those who have been killed. 

Alison will share more stories of hope soon. 

Latest prayer needs from Ukraine 

• Pray for Alison’s safety and that she and so many others will somehow be able to cope with the cold and lack of power 
• Pray for veteran soldiers who have left the army at the end of duty or because of injury, as they adjust to civilian life. A number are on their own and don’t know where to turn. Others may have left the country or been forced to move to the west of Ukraine. Many veterans feel lost and turn to alcohol or drugs to cope with their stresses, the practical and emotional difficulties.  
• Pray for families who are separated with some members abroad and partners in Ukraine. Pray for people as they adjust to the consequences of this new reality. 
• Pray for peace. For lasting, safe, life-giving peace between Ukraine and Russia. This time next year, may the violence have long ceased. 

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Ukraine: restoration of power, renewed hope

Pray for people in Ukraine, particularly Kyiv, where deadly Russian attacks are targeting the country’s energy sector amid freezing temperatures and 200+ repair crews are working to reconnect people to the grid. Where repair crews are exhausted and ready to give up, pray for God to break through and restore their spirits as well as restore power. Pray for provision for all those struggling to stay warm and for fresh hope for all those who feel hopeless. Give thanks for mission partner Alison Giblett and her church, Tabernacle of the Living God (TLG), for their tireless work of sharing the gospel and offering practical help to everyone they can. Pray for God to encourage TLG by unveiling their eyes to see what he is doing around them, in them and through them.

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Ukraine: dire living conditions

Mission partner Alison Giblett reports on the dire living conditions in Kyiv. There is very little power and temperatures have dropped to minus 20C making conditions very difficult for troops on the front lines and for the homeless. The loss of power has an impact on heating flats, on lifts, on water, power and on lighting. Pray for the new head of power and energy, who is also the new deputy prime minister, Denys Smyal – and for God’s protection on the power stations, energy infrastructure and systems.

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Ukraine: renewed attacks

Following attacks in Kyiv last week, that left many without power or water, electricity and heating are slowly being restored. The winter temperatures are dropping dramatically and mission partner Alison Giblett shares that the Tabernacle of Living God (TLG) church has become a vital hub, offering heat and cooking facilities to those in need. Pray for people working in freezing conditions to maintain services, for civilians living in areas affected by conflict and for the attacks to end. We join with Christians across the world in continuing to pray for peace between Ukraine and Russia.  

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Ukraine: low on power, low on hope

The BBC reports that most people in Ukraine are living with lengthy power cuts due to Russian attacks on infrastructure. Alison Giblett shares that in Kyiv, temperatures are hovering around zero degrees, plunging many people into a desperate situation. Pray for stamina for the energy providers and technicians who are working hard to provide as much power for everyone amid ongoing attacks. Pray for people to find ways to keep warm, for renewed hope and for the God of justice to bring about a just settlement of the war.

Alison is running a Christmas event for women in the Makariv region on 22 December. Pray for the event to be a powerful witness to God’s love and for all those attending to come away built up and hopeful.

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Ukraine: peace

In Ukraine, the Russian frontline is moving slowly – and at great cost to both Russians and Ukrainians – towards a number of key cities such as Odesa, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Mykolaiv, which come under regular drone attack. Please pray for safety and peace for people in these cities and elsewhere in the country. Pray for those in positions of authority, who have the power make decisions that affect the lives of millions, to make decisions for a peace settlement and an end to the killing. Pray for ongoing strength for mission partner Alison Giblett and her church, Tabernacle of the Living God, as they provide spiritual and material care to those in need.

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Ukraine: Kyiv killings

We are grateful to God that mission partner Alison Giblett is safe and unharmed following Russian strikes on the capital this week. Please pray for God’s mercy and grace for people who are hurt and grieving and continue to pray for the bloodshed to cease and for peace to prevail.

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Ukraine: evangelism and ministry

We give thanks for the Million Month, a Europe-wide evangelism initiative aiming to share the gospel with one million people through one-on-one street evangelism in 30 cities, including Kyiv. As the initiative ends this weekend, pray for God’s continued leading for mission partner Alison Giblett and her church, the Tabernacle of the Living God (TLG), to reach as many people as possible with God’s love. Pray for all those who have responded during the event to be connected with local churches and continue to seek Jesus. Pray, too, for Alison and TLG as they prepare to run camps for children this summer.

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A widow and her family from the Makariv region in Ukraine have found comfort amid the pain and uncertainty of her son being taken prisoner in the war, thanks to support from a church led by CMS partners.

The son, a soldier in the Ukrainian army, was taken captive, and the family don’t know what has happened to him. They don’t know when or if they will see him again.

CMS mission partner Alison Giblett, part of the church, recently explained how families like this one, whose relatives are missing in the war, face particular struggles: “Where [loved ones] have disappeared, they can’t move on, they can’t let go, because they’re still trying to have hope that they’ll see them again.”

Lifeline

Yet after two years of no information, it is hard to persevere.

For this particular family, support from the church’s chaplaincy project has been a lifeline.

Members of the church who have trained in this work go to visit the family every week or two, to sit with them and listen, and to pray with them.

Alison explains, “They feel that they’re not alone in their pain. They’ve started coming to the services, [the missing man’s] niece has been involved and she loves mixing with the other children.

“It’s really beautiful to see that this family has hope and they have been able to entrust this man to God, knowing that he is with him and able to take care of him whether they know about it or not. But that doesn’t mean that every day is easy.”

This is one of several ways that Tabernacle of the Living God church has been endeavouring to be part of the solution, bringing hope amid bleak circumstances. This chaplaincy work includes supporting widows as well as those with family members missing.

Unlocking emotions

Alison comments, “It’s a privilege to be able to support them, to listen to their stories, which of course are heart breaking.”

Alison was also able to help at a youth camp for children who have lost their fathers or whose fathers have gone missing.

She explains, “Each day of the week, we focused on different emotions, trying to help them unlock their emotions and express the pain, the sadness, the grief, the anger, and to come back to find joy and peace again. So that was a joy.”

The church team also offer chaplaincy to veterans who have been severely injured in the war, and pastor Valery Alymov and Peter lead teams of chaplains to the front lines to spiritually support soldiers.

As there are many groups offering support, at the beginning of this year the church hosted a conference bringing different ministries into one place and to walk together as they support others.

Kept in hope

Alison explains that offering such practical support to others also helps church members not to give up: “As we do practical things it reinforces our belief that it is worth carrying on, that there are things in this little way that we can be part of the solution.

“And so the little things that we have done by helping, talking to the widows, running camps for the children who lost their fathers, by visiting the front line, by handing out aid, all of that obviously helps other people but it also helps us and it strengthens us and it keeps us in hope.”

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