Kyiv: Thirty five years after Ukraine restored its independence from the Soviet Union, Bishop Vitalij Skomarovskyj says the country continues to value freedom deeply while facing one of the darkest periods in its modern history.
The Bishop of Lutsk and president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops in Ukraine for the Latin Rite spoke about religious freedom, the human cost of war, the importance of peace and the support Ukrainians have received from people around the world.
For Bishop Skomarovskyj, 35 years of independence may be a short period when compared with Ukraine’s long history, but it has been filled with major changes. The country faced serious economic difficulties after the collapse of the Soviet Union and later entered a period of conflict that began in 2014 and became a full scale war after Russia launched its invasion in 2022.
Despite the suffering, the bishop considers independence a precious gift because it has allowed Ukrainians to practice their faith freely.
He recalled the difficult years of Soviet rule, when religious communities were heavily restricted and believers could face imprisonment, discrimination and pressure at work. Some people suffered greatly because of their faith, while others were prevented from pursuing careers or public positions.
Today, Ukrainians can openly attend church, raise their children in their faith and speak about their religious beliefs without facing the same state persecution.
Bishop Skomarovskyj said this freedom should not be taken for granted. At the same time, he acknowledged that religious life now faces a different challenge. When people are free to practise their faith, they can also become distracted by careers, material concerns and other demands of modern life.
He pointed particularly to the shortage of young men entering seminaries. During the Soviet period, entering a seminary could be extremely difficult because of government pressure and restrictions. Some young men reportedly had to make repeated attempts before being accepted.
Today those political barriers have disappeared, but the number of young people choosing priestly formation remains very low.
The bishop also spoke about the painful reality of the war and the deaths of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.
He said Ukrainians defending their country are not necessarily thinking about giving their lives when they go to the front. Like anyone else, they want to live and return to their families. But military service places them in situations where death is a constant danger.
For the bishop, the defence of Ukraine is closely connected to the idea of protecting a shared home.
He compared the country to a family home that must be protected when an attacker breaks through the doors and windows. Ukrainians, he said, have risen to defend the place where they live, their families and their common future.
The cost has been enormous. Families have lost fathers, mothers, sons and daughters, while many others have been injured or forced to live with the psychological and emotional effects of war.
Bishop Skomarovskyj said his own understanding of war has also changed. Before the conflict, much of his knowledge came from books, films and reports about wars in other parts of the world. Living through war, however, has shown him its reality in a completely different way.
He said the experience has strengthened his conviction that war must be avoided whenever possible.
Peace, he stressed, is not something people should appreciate only after losing it. It is a precious gift that protects children, elderly people, families and entire communities.
The bishop also expressed gratitude for the international solidarity shown toward Ukraine. He said people from different parts of the world have continued to offer prayers, material assistance and spiritual support despite the long duration of the conflict.
For Ukrainians, he said, this support is a source of strength and hope.
The solidarity is especially meaningful because it is freely offered by people who are moved by compassion rather than obligation. Their prayers and assistance remind Ukrainians that they are not alone in their suffering.
As Ukraine marks another anniversary of independence, Bishop Skomarovskyj's message is therefore both painful and hopeful. The country continues to face enormous challenges, but its people remain grateful for the freedom they have gained and for those who stand beside them.
His appeal is ultimately centred on peace. After years of conflict and loss, he believes Ukrainians understand more clearly than ever how valuable peace is and how urgently it is needed.
For a nation celebrating 35 years of independence during wartime, the hope remains that the violence will end and that the freedom so deeply valued by its people can finally be lived without fear.