Ukraine Crisis - Prayers and Resources

Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine is having devastating consequences on the people there. Millions, mostly women and children, have had to flee and become refugees, while those left behind are facing increasingly desperate conditions.

The UN estimates that 12 million people inside Ukraine will need relief and protection, while more than four million Ukrainian refugees may need protection and assistance in neighbouring countries in coming months.

We have put together this page to help churches and individuals looking to respond.

As Christians, our response is rooted in prayer. You can use these prayers to pray for all those in need now.

On Sunday, 3rd April 2022, churches and Christians from across the UK and Ireland will come together in an act of witness to pray and light candles for Ukraine, for an end to the conflict, and for all those affected by the terrible impact of war. Christian Aid is inviting churches in Wales to join in this moment.

You can use the prayer during your worship or in a more public event with other churches and wider community.

Download the prayer and find out more

Together as Christians in these islands and with our sisters and brothers in the churches of Ukraine, we pray for an end to the conflict and for peace in our world.

The biggest need at the moment is for gifts of money so that food, temporary accommodation and life-saving essentials can be delivered quickly to those on the Ukraine borders fleeing deadly violence.

You can give through:

• Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal which is supported by a number of charities including Christian Aid.
• USPG-Diocese in Europe Emergency Appeal which is looking to support the front line work of chaplaincies across Europe as well as Christian charities carrying out humanitarian work in Ukraine and responding to the arrival of refugees in neighbouring countries.

Community hubs

As the Government creates more routes for refugees to settle in the UK many churches, schools and community groups are keen to offer as much help as they can.

The charity Link International has partnered with churches and organisations across North Wales to bring together resources to help people in immediate need, and affected by the war in Ukraine, as they arrive in our communities.

They have help and advice on how to set up a community hub to help refugees at: https://www.link-international.org/ukraine

The Christian charity, Housing Justice Cymru, is seeking volunteers to offer refugees a spare bed so they have somewhere safe to sleep. To find out more about its hosting programme, see https://housingjustice.org.uk/cymru/hosting

You can also register to sponsor refugees at the UK Government’s Homes For Ukraine campaign: https://homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk/

The Welsh Government is supporting this scheme. It is working with Wales’ councils and third sector organisations to ensure the right support is available for people from Ukraine arriving in Wales.

This includes planning welcome centres and ensuring access to all the wrap-around services people arriving from a war zone may need.

Find out more at: https://gov.wales/update-about-homes-ukraine-scheme-wales

In preparation for people arriving in the UK from Ukraine, Welcome Churches has launched ukrainewelcome.org, a tool that provides information in English, Ukrainian and Russian for people arriving in the UK from Ukraine to help them settle and connect with a community, to be welcomed and receive the help and support they need. Please do consider if your church could join the Welcome Churches network.

For more information regarding Welcome Churches https://welcomechurches.org/