CHAPLAINCY AND RELIGIOUS FAITH AMID FULL-SCALE INVASION: A BIOETHICAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

B a c k g r o u n d . The full-scale invasion revealed not only the fragility, but also the resilience of Ukrainian society. Therefore, within the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the phenomenon of chaplaincy becomes especially relevant. The factor of religious faith under wartime conditions requires systematic interdisciplinary research within a bioethical framework. The way we address moral dilemmas affects not only the well-being of patients, service members, and healthcare workers, but also public trust in institutions, community solidarity, legal culture, and the country's capacity for postwar recovery. The bioethics of war takes medicine far beyond classical clinical scenarios–into the realm of allocating scarce resources, rapid decision-making, trauma care, and supporting the families of those affected. In all these critical nodes, questions of meaning and values inevitably intersect with the religious convictions of patients, their families, and clinicians themselves. In combat and frontline settings, the risk of moral injury among healthcare personnel rises sharply–stemming from exposure to violence, the impossibility of maintaining "ideal" standards of care, and dilemmas of dual loyalty (professional duty versus security requirements). It is precisely here that spiritual care and the presence of chaplains can perform a unique existential function–one that purely medical or psychological protocols cannot fully provide.

M e t h o d s. The study employed theoretical analysis, a comparative approach, logical methods, and generalization. We also used analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, and descriptive generalization of accumulated materials. A targeted review of scholarly publications and regulatory documents was conducted (content analysis of key provisions), followed by a synthesis of findings to examine the bioethical dimension of spiritual care.

R e s u l t s . It was established that chaplaincy during wartime is a vital component of support for those affected. It addresses the existential-moral dimension of suffering–guilt, fear, loss of meaning, moral injury–which is difficult to treat through medical protocols alone. Chaplaincy helps service members and clinicians preserve humanity and professional ethics under extreme pressure, reducing the risks of dehumanization, burnout, and harmful decisions. Chaplains provide culturally and religiously sensitive care to the wounded and those traumatized by war, thereby strengthening trust in the healthcare system and adherence to treatment. Through ritual practices and pastoral counseling, they reinforce resilience and cohesion within military units and medical teams. When combined with clear ethical safeguards–voluntariness, non-discrimination, confidentiality, and professional standards–chaplaincy becomes a safe and effective component of comprehensive care. Integrating chaplains into healthcare institutions elevates dignity, the ethical quality of decision-making, and psychological resilience. Without this link, it is impossible to fully address the consequences of war.

C o n c l u s i o n s . The study finds that, in wartime, chaplains often assume responsibility for issues that standard medical protocols cannot adequately resolve–namely, problems in the moral-ethical dimension. These include moral injury, feelings of guilt, the search for meaning, and delineating the limits of permissible force. Chaplains function as an ethical bulwark alongside psychologists and medical professionals. They help prevent and resolve conflicts and support the moral equilibrium of service members and healthcare staff. In hospitals, chaplains can potentially participate in consultations and ethics committees, conduct sensitive communication with families, take part in major ethical decisions at the end of life, uphold a culture of respect, and meet religious needs. The effectiveness of such collaboration is supported by international and regional studies.

In Ukraine, the ongoing institutionalization of chaplaincy is creating a robust ethical and legal framework for its integration into clinical decision-making and the protection of patients' rights.