A rocket struck—the windows shattered, the roof vanished—but no one was harmed. Another time, an explosion damaged only the equipment. One night, an enemy drone hovered over the position, but it disappeared at the moment of the guard shift change. “Situations like these happen quite often,” says Oleksandr Hrinchuk, a soldier from Kyiv, reflecting on the third anniversary of the full-scale war in Ukraine.

“God Wants Me to Trust Him More”

Oleksandr Hrinchuk is a Catholic. He emphasizes that he sees God’s protection in difficult moments, even if he does not always understand “why certain things happen.”

“I don’t like living in uncertainty without a concrete plan. But I see God wants me to trust Him more,” he notes.

He also points out that in the face of war, even soldiers who are not religious might cross themselves or say a short prayer. “Sometimes, we talk with fellow soldiers about faith and the Church.” He acknowledges that he has encountered many different opinions about God and religion in the military and many in a sincere search for answers. “I try to explain certain matters, though I haven’t converted anyone yet. Maybe I’m not the best missionary,” he adds with a smile.

From Stability to Uncertainty

Oleksandr Hrinchuk was mobilized into the army in June 2024. “After completing training and integrating with my unit, we were deployed to Kursk, where I am still fighting today,” he shares.

“The beginning was tough—both physically and mentally. One of the hardest moments for me was being unable to attend Mass,” he recalls. On the frontlines, he did not experience his first Mass until several months later.

“That was difficult for me. But I prayed every day and read the Word of God—even if only for five minutes, even when I was exhausted. It gave me strength. The prayers of others were also a huge source of support. I know that many people are praying for me, which truly gives me courage,” he emphasizes.

“Are There No Atheists in War?”

The saying that “there are no atheists in war” is, in his opinion, “a certain way of thinking.” “Atheists do exist, of course,” Hrinchuk says, “but I’ve noticed that, on an instinctive level, especially in moments of danger, someone might cross themselves or say, ‘Lord, help!’ Maybe for some, that’s the beginning of a journey.”

“I am learning to trust God. I know His plan is better than mine,” he adds.

The full-scale war in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, claiming hundreds of thousands of military and civilian lives.