Zaporizhzhia: As Ukraine endures another brutal winter under fire, Bishop Jan Sobilo, Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kharkiv–Zaporizhzhia, has spoken movingly about life under relentless shelling, where prayer continues amid explosions and human solidarity becomes a vital source of warmth.
During the night of February 5–6 and into the early morning hours, Russian forces launched a fresh wave of large-scale attacks on multiple Ukrainian cities. Zaporizhzhia was among the regions hit hardest. Several residential buildings were damaged, leaving civilians injured, including a 14-year-old boy and an adult man. The assault also claimed the lives of a married couple, aged 49 and 48, deepening the toll on an already traumatized community.
Speaking to Vatican News after what he described as an especially heavy night of bombardment, Bishop Sobilo painted a stark picture of daily life in a city that continues to function under constant air-raid sirens, freezing temperatures, and recurring shortages of electricity, water, and heating.
Despite the danger, religious life has not stopped. The bishop recalled celebrating Holy Mass at eight o’clock in the morning, joined by visitors from Italy, including Father Luca Bovio, director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Ukraine. Even as the liturgy unfolded, the sounds of war were impossible to ignore. Explosions echoed nearby, and Bishop Sobilo witnessed a drone being shot down, falling through the sky in flames. “It was an extremely loud and frightening morning,” he said.
Yet, he noted with quiet resolve, people continue to pray and increasingly, they do so with a calm born of painful familiarity. “It is heartbreaking to admit, but we have grown used to war,” the bishop explained. Sirens sound day and night, and many residents no longer rush to shelters each time. “It is simply impossible to live underground constantly,” he said. “People try to survive as best they can.”
One of the most severe challenges remains the unstable power supply. Electricity outages are frequent, with some neighborhoods receiving power while others remain in darkness. Although a total blackout in Zaporizhzhia is rare, rotating outages have become routine due to limited energy resources. Heating, the bishop explained, depends heavily on building infrastructure. Homes with gas can still stay warm, but in many newer high-rise buildings everything relies on electricity. When power is cut, heating systems fail, water pumps stop, and even basic access to water disappears.
In response, some residents have resorted to warming themselves in their cars during the evenings before returning home to sleep fully clothed to conserve body heat. This harsh reality, Bishop Sobilo noted, is not limited to Zaporizhzhia but is shared by other cities, including Kyiv and Dnipro.
Amid these hardships, parishes have become lifelines for thousands. People continue to attend Mass, and charitable work has taken on life-saving importance. Near the co-cathedral at the Shrine of God the Father, the Albertine Brothers distribute bread four times a week, serving around 1,500 people each time and up to 2,000 on Saturdays. Along with bread, people receive canned food and other essentials.
However, resources are increasingly scarce. Bishop Sobilo acknowledged that aid deliveries are becoming more difficult, with some transport companies unwilling to enter the region. Still, the Albertine Brothers persist in baking bread, while other organizations contribute what they can. “Despite everything,” he said, “we continue.”
A particularly meaningful gesture arrived after Christmas, when an aid truck sent by Cardinal Konrad Krajewski reached the city. Among the supplies were instant noodles simple, lightweight, but deeply appreciated. The bishop noted that people value them not only because they are filling and warming, but also because soldiers at the front rely on them. Easy to carry and prepare, the noodles have become an unexpected symbol of survival. “The soldiers say they save lives,” he explained, adding that the aid supports both civilians and those defending the country.
Supporting the military, Bishop Sobilo emphasized, is a priority for the local Church. “If our soldiers do not defend us, no other help will matter,” he said. “The occupiers would take everything. That is why we pray for our soldiers and support them in every possible way. They are protecting our land and our people.”
Conditions on the front lines remain extremely tense. The bishop observed that before the onset of winter, the situation appeared somewhat more stable. Now, Russian forces are pushing closer to Zaporizhzhia, placing enormous strain on Ukrainian defenders. The winter cold, combined with targeted attacks on energy infrastructure, has worsened the suffering of both civilians and soldiers. “They are bombing what gives us light and heat,” he said. “Winter is being used as a weapon.”
The emotional toll is equally devastating. Bishop Sobilo spoke of residents who once vowed never to leave their homes but are now fleeing with their families. Children, in particular, are struggling to cope with the constant presence of drones and explosions. “The psychological pressure is immense,” he said, “especially for the youngest.”
Appealing to the international community, the Auxiliary Bishop stressed that the needs in his diocese are overwhelming. Without electricity and water, businesses cannot function, and countless families have lost everything. He expressed deep gratitude for the solidarity shown by people around the world, and especially for the support of Pope Francis and the assistance channeled through Cardinal Krajewski.
“At times it feels as though the world does not fully see the brutality we are enduring,” Bishop Sobilo said. “I ask you not to forget Ukraine. Your memory, your prayers, and your support these human gestures warm our hearts, even in the coldest winter.”