In an interview with Vatican media, Yuriy Lifantse, coordinator of the Community of Sant’Egidio in Ukraine, spoke about the community’s ministry during the war, its support for the most vulnerable, and the challenges facing Ukrainian society.

My Brothers Live There

Yuriy Lifantse stressed that today, the ability to sustain human bonds and hope is no less important than material assistance. “It is this brotherhood and sisterhood that help people survive: there is someone to work with, to pray with, to cry with, and to rejoice with,” he said.

He affirmed that Ukraine remains at the center of attention for the international Community of Sant’Egidio, even when it disappears from newspaper front pages. He quoted the words of one brother in Burundi: “Our country borders Ukraine, because my brothers live there.”

Aid

The Community prays, raises funds, and delivers humanitarian aid, above all medicines. The latest shipment included medicines worth €700,000 for children suffering from viral hepatitis. It also provides essential goods, food, and hygiene products.

Many refugees who once received support from the Community are now going out into the streets themselves to cook meals for those in need, visit the elderly and children, and support families who have lost loved ones.

This work unites this great nation, Lifantse said. “We are present in Kyiv, Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, as well as in frontline areas. I think more than 500 people are currently involved in this activity.”

A Way of Being Christian

Yuriy emphasized that belonging to the Community is not a form of volunteering, but a way of being Christian. “In the Community, we pray, gather together, read the Word of God and share common concerns. When the invasion began in 2022, the Community became a source of support and a safe haven. Children who attended our Schools of Peace and whom we cared for then are now helping other children themselves or visiting the elderly. People do not come here for payment, but out of a sense of vocation.”

Problems

Lifantse pointed to the expansion of the so-called grey zone, or zone of death, as a major problem. In these areas, it is often impossible to deliver the most essential supplies. In Kherson, for example, there are districts that transport cannot reach because of the danger.

He stressed that older people are in an especially difficult situation because they often remain in frontline areas and, when forced to evacuate, face particular difficulties with mobility and adapting to new surroundings. For this reason, they need special attention and support.

In conclusion, Yuriy Lifantse said that supporting the weakest helps build a world in which you yourself will not be left without support. “It may sound simple, but that is how it works,” he said. “That is why faith and community help people survive.”

Family News Service / Piotr Kowalczuk