Christians Under Fire: Faith and Survival in Ukraine and Gaza
In Ukraine, the Christian community faces a double crisis: political repression and emotional trauma for its youngest members. According to Open Doors, in areas under Russian control, only the Russian Orthodox Church receives privileges, while other denominations face severe restrictions. Since September 2024, the Ukrainian government has completely banned the Russian Orthodox Church on the mainland, and in Russian-occupied areas, communities loyal to Kyiv are actively persecuted. Furthermore, since early 2024, Russian militants have closed Greek Catholic churches in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia, confiscating property and expelling clergy, even arresting priests and subjecting them to torture.
Despite the suffering, faith remains a source of hope. In an effort to address childhood trauma, Mission Eurasia hopes to serve 30,000 Ukrainian children this summer through Bible camps that combine therapy and religious instruction. Other organizations, such as SIT, are also trying to help these Christian communities improve their daily lives.
In the Gaza Strip, Christians live in extreme conditions. The Catholic Church of the Holy Family, a shelter for between 400 and 500 displaced people, was hit on July 17, 2025, by Israeli tank fire, causing three deaths and wounding Father Gabriel Romanelli. The Israeli army claimed to regret “the damage caused,” while Pope Leo XIV expressed his deep sadness, and the Vatican questioned the official version of the incident. Furthermore, a few weeks ago, another attack directly hit the church, causing at least two deaths while it sheltered nearly 400 people. Cardinal Pizzaballa questioned whether it was a mistake and urgently called for a ceasefire. Some time later, Pastor Romanelli, urging the Pope to “keep Gaza in his heart,” reported that the parish is still maintaining spiritual and educational routines amid the shortages, after more than two months without humanitarian aid.
Despite all these difficulties, Christians continue to resist thanks to their faith.