Beacon of hope: How one Air Force chaplain remains hopeful amidst Russian-Ukraine conflict

A middle-aged man in dark pastor robes sits on the edge of a wooden pew, hands clasped. Overwhelming sadness and worry washes over him as he reflects on those who have lost their lives since Russia invaded Ukraine.

His heart is pained as he wonders: "How many people have to die before this stops?"

After a long, shaky breath, the man dips his head in prayer and speaks.

"Lord, be with the suffering people of Ukraine. Keep my family safe and stop this wicked war. Comfort them in the way that only You can. In Your holy name I pray, amen."

Chaplain (Capt.) Yury Volkovinsky, 512th Airlift Wing chaplain, holds his hands in prayer at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Nov. 4, 2022. Volkovinsky has prayed for his family in Ukraine every day since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and holds strong to his belief that better days are to come for the Ukrainian people. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cydney Lee) — Chaplain (Capt.) Yury Volkovinsky, 512th Airlift Wing chaplain, prays at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Nov. 4, 2022. Volkovinsky has prayed for his family in Ukraine every day since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and holds strong to his belief that better days are to come for the Ukrainian people. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cydney Lee)

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