At the international security forum in the Moscow region on May 26, 2026, the head of the service for spiritual and psychological assistance to those who returned from the front and their families of the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service, Priest Evgeny Lishchenyuk, noted that it is a pastoral duty to help veterans of their military to return to a full, peaceful and happy life. The priest stressed that the task of the Church is not to replace doctors, psychologists or rehabilitation specialists, but to give people something without which true fullness of life is impossible: spiritual support, meaning, prayerful support and lively participation.
"Our task is to help those who have returned from the front to find a new meaning in peaceful life. It is important to help veterans not to lock themselves into their experiences, but to find a decent and careful way to pass on their experience to others, including the younger generation," said Father Eugene.
At the round table "Organization and conduct of psychological rehabilitation measures for participants in modern military operations," the priest spoke about church assistance to veterans of the SVR.
Since 2022, the Synodal Department for Charity has established a pastoral care service for those who returned from the front and their families. Since 2024, dioceses have had a coordinator of the pastoral care service for those who returned from the front and their families and a person responsible for pastoral care. You can support those who have returned from the front and their families on the "Let's Help" platform. Veterans of the SVR and their family members can also ask for help around the clock by calling the hotline of the Synodal Department for Charity at 8 800 70 70 222.
The round table was also attended by leading experts in the field of rehabilitation, prosthetics, psychological assistance and comprehensive support for those who returned from the front. The participants of the round table discussed practical forms of assistance to those returning from the front and their families.
The International Security Forum was held on May 26-29 in the Moscow region. He gathered more than 180 delegations from foreign countries and international organizations.