“Exhaustion but Not Defeat”: The Volunteer Chaplains Anchoring Ukraine’s Spiritual Front (Podcast & Video)
- Steve Jurrens
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - As the war in Ukraine enters its second decade since the initial 2014 conflict, the struggle is often measured in terms of territory and ammunition. However, for Vasyl Khimich, the founder of the Organization of Military Christians of Ukraine (OMCU), the most critical battlefield is the human spirit.
In a recent interview with Lee Gabel, Khimich and Gabel detailed the grueling yet essential work of providing “spiritual readiness” to a nation under fire.
A Journey of Transformation
Khimich’s background is a study in irony. A retired Lt. Colonel who served for over two decades in the Soviet and Ukrainian armed forces, he was raised in a system that mandated atheism.
“I became a Christian serving at the time in Russia in ’91... I felt the time God’s calling to minister among my military colleagues to bring them good news.” — Vasyl Khimich.
Since founding the OMCU in the 1990s, Khimich has transitioned from an officer of war to a “volunteer” chaplain. Because Ukraine is still establishing an official military chaplaincy, volunteer clergy like Khimich are essential, often acting as “circuit preachers” who rotate in and out of active combat zones.
Ministry in the Midst of Blackouts
The interview highlighted the specific trauma faced by military families. Vasyl’s wife, Valentina, leads specialized ministries for widows and “fatherless children,” using craft therapy and listening sessions to process grief.
Khimich recounted the dedication of these families during the severe winter blackouts in Kyiv in 2024. With temperatures plunging to -25°C and elevators rendered useless, widows would still find their way to the OMCU office.
“Despite cold weather and despite that elevator doesn’t work... they come, we have meetings in our kitchen... we have candles, and we talk with these ladies.” — Vasyl Khimich.
Spiritual Reconstruction
The work extends directly to the wounded. Khimich spends weeks at a time in war-zone hospitals in regions like Kharkiv Oblast, bringing coffee machines, sweets, and spiritual counseling to soldiers who have often lost limbs.
Lee Gabel, who has observed the ministry firsthand, noted that despite the “societal exhaustion” felt after years of full-scale invasion, the spirit of the people remains unbroken. Gabel emphasized that “Spiritual health is critical for people who carry the heavy responsibilities of military service.”
As Ukraine looks toward eventual reconstruction, Khimich believes the military community will be the backbone of the nation’s recovery. For now, he remains focused on the immediate need:
“Until I have a strength and personal ability... I see the windows for the new opportunities to serve, to continue to do these things.” — Vasyl Khimich
Support the Mission
The OMCU is supported by Military Vision, a 501(c)(3) based in Watertown, South Dakota. Supporters are encouraged to provide “humanitarian aid” and “financial support” to sustain the chaplains who remain in Ukraine despite the ongoing risks to their own safety.
