Kiev archbishop says coming winter could be Ukraine’s hardest yet

Ukraine’s coming winter could be its most difficult since Russia launched its invasion, Kyiv’s major archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk told ORF during a European bishops’ conference in Salzburg.

Shevchuk said Russian attacks were destroying infrastructure, and Kyiv was facing frequent drone and missile strikes. “The good news is that I am still alive,” he said in an ORF interview.

He said the Church was helping people prepare for disruptions to critical infrastructure, including by providing independent heating systems. “The Church is a place of resilience for people. The monasteries are open to everyone who comes,” he said.

The war’s suffering and trauma have led many people in Ukraine to seek comfort in faith, Shevchuk said. He said he had come to Salzburg to share a message of hope and thanked Europeans for their solidarity. Ukraine was defending its independence and legitimacy, he said, but “even more, we are defending human dignity.” During the conference, he also met Ukrainians who had fled to Salzburg.

The European bishops’ conference meets once a year. Founded in 1971, it has 39 members representing the Catholic Church in 45 European countries and discusses religious, political and social issues.