In the first course of its kind to be held in this nation, Ukrainian military chaplains have finished their spiritual training with the British Army.
The Royal Army Chaplains' Department's two-week program was held at a camp outside of Warminster, Wiltshire.
The training, which included teaching participants how to provide pastoral care to soldiers, was initially open to 10 participants.
"It's not just about weapons and rockets, it's about spiritual support," Lt. Dmytro Povorotnyi of Dnipro said. ".
Additionally, the Ukrainian chaplains gained knowledge on how to support and counsel soldiers morally and spiritually while they are in combat.
Military chaplains, who represent a wide range of religious traditions, carry out tasks like supporting grieving soldiers and families, presiding over religious services, and offering private counseling.
Wherever British soldiers have been deployed since 1945, chaplains have served.
After the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Lt. Povorotnyi made the decision to train as a military chaplain. He said, "We have the understanding that the umbrella that covers Ukraine, it's our armed forces.
Because they defend Ukraine from its cruel enemies, "Our men and women are so strong. Nevertheless, even the combatants need some form of safety. ".
Lt. Taras Kotsyuba, a military chaplain since 2014, left his family behind to aid Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russia.
His wife and their kids are still living in their hometown west of the country, close to Lviv.
I wanted to do something for their future," he said. While I cannot carry a weapon because I am a priest, I can stand with the soldiers who refused to accept Russian occupation and felt compelled to fight in that war. ".
Since the command structure of the Ukrainian army was formally established in 2021, a total of 160 chaplains have joined it.
Col. Vitali Skrybets, commander of the Ukrainian military chaplaincy, asserted that more was required to provide soldiers with the proper care.
He declared, "We require more than 700 chaplains.
The training for the Ukrainian visitors' chaplains was created and delivered by Reverend Robin Richardson, a chaplain in the Royal Army Chaplains' Department. Richardson expressed his hope that more chaplains could take the course.
These chaplains, who are currently enrolled in the program, are at the forefront of the chaplains' department, which has been growing over the past two years. ".
The visit by the chaplains provided a "rare opportunity to capitalize on the excellent expertise offered by the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre," according to Maj Gen Andrew Roe CB, chief executive and commandant of the United Kingdom's Defence Academy.
