MORAL NARRATIVES OF CONTEMPORARY UKRAINIAN PROTESTANTISM IN CONDITIONS OF WAR

Abstract

This article examines the transformation of ethical paradigms and the formation of new moral narratives within contemporary Ukrainian Protestantism in the context of the full-scale Russian aggression (2022–2025). The author conducts a systematic comparative analysis of the three largest Protestant denominations in Ukraine – Baptists, Pentecostals, and Seventh-day Adventists in order to identify the distinctive features of their theological interpretations of war and their practical models of responding to the social, ethical, and humanitarian challenges of wartime. The study demonstrates how traditional theological frameworks are being transformed under the pressure of an existential crisis, reshaping understandings of Christian responsibility, civic engagement, and the boundaries of legitimate violence. The article argues that despite their shared evangelical roots, each denomination constructs a unique narrative strategy. Baptists emphasize social responsibility and the legitimization of armed defense through the concept of a “Kingdom missiology”. Pentecostals interpret war as a metaphysical struggle, focusing on spiritual mobilization, prayer, and existential support for believers. Seventh-day Adventists, by contrast, propose a humanitarian ethic as an alternative to violence, maintaining principles of non-combatancy while developing medical and social ministries. Special attention is given to the ways in which these moral models contribute to the formation of a new Protestant identity that combines religious faith, civic activism, and responsibility for the common good. The article shows that practices such as volunteering, chaplaincy, humanitarian assistance, and solidarity with war victims have become key spaces for the reinterpretation of Christian ethics within Ukrainian Protestantism. The study concludes that the war has acted as a catalyst for profound worldview transformations, contributing to the final disengagement of Ukrainian Protestants from the “Eurasian” religious space and strengthening processes of national self-identification.