Finding Hope Amid War

Angelina was beginning to dread the calls. What used to be a highlight in her otherwise horrible day became a regular reminder of just how much the war in Ukraine had already changed her beloved husband.

“His psychological condition isn’t good,” Angelina said. “His calls have become aggressive, jealous, and filled with insults.”

As just one of thousands of Ukrainian women in her position as a military spouse whose husband is on the front lines, Angelina felt heartbroken and helpless.

The Ongoing Conflict and the CRC’s Partners There

Power outages, landmines, shelling, and air-raid sirens are part of everyday life for millions of people such as Angelina caught in the midst of the war in Ukraine.

Sadly, many mothers with young children are unable to leave Ukraine and are living in this uncertainty every day.

“We see the deep need to minister to these internally displaced people,” said Rev. Sergei Sosedkin, Russian-language ministry leader for ReFrame Ministries. “In many cases the social support systems within the country are less than those in refugee host nations. Women and children are truly on their own. We want to walk beside them with messages of hope, love, trust, and peace in Christ. We want to share the gospel!”

But many of these women are no longer on their own, thanks to ReFrame’s support. This year, ReFrame’s Russian ministry team established a phone and internet chat hotline for internally displaced people such as Angelina. The hotline is available for 14 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is hosted by Christian psychologists.

Angelina’s Calls

Every hour, a radio announcement in many of Ukraine’s major cities announces, "You don't have to endure your pain alone. We're here to listen and share your burden. Reach out now. Our team is standing by, ready to support you."

When Angelina heard these words broadcast by ReFrame’s radio partners, she was in tears, recalling yet another troubling interaction with her husband. She shared that she both resents and pities him, but she also knows that the horrors of war are really to blame.

“We engaged in an empathetic conversation,” shared one of the psychologists after her phone call with Angelina. “I provided online resources, a contact for Christian psychotherapy, prayer support, and spiritual guidance.”

The call did not solve everything, but Angelina was grateful for this support through the new hotline, and she said she felt relief—a relief that CRC congregations and individuals helped provide through prayers and support.

Thank you for supporting ReFrame’s Russian-language ministry in Ukraine.

Inside Ukraine's Call in Ministry

The following call log is an example of the types of calls the ministry is receiving. Although the names and times of the calls have been changed to protect identity, the following call log has otherwise been directly translated by your Russian ministry partners.