A former missionary who’s now serving as a soldier within the Ukrainian army has spoken in regards to the realities of religion for a person tasked with killing in defence of his country.
Mykhailo Husiev was for nearly 20 years an element of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students, spending time in Ukraine, Georgia and Austria for the organisation. Now he acts as a record keeper at his battalion headquarters, noting the actions of the assorted drone flights.
Speaking to the European Evangelical Alliance, Husiev said that he had tried to volunteer after the Russian attack of early 2022, but he was denied resulting from a scarcity of obtainable spaces.
It was not long nonetheless before he received a conscription notice.
“I made a decision it was God’s will. I used to be expecting it, yet afraid — I used to be 51 and never a military man,” he said.
On the realities of war, Husiev said he had no moral qualms in regards to the requirements of his job, adding that in his view churches had often failed to offer adequate teaching on the difficulty.
“Even before the war, I knew the difference between killing to take what your neighbour has versus defending your loved ones and land when an enemy attacks,” he said.
“This difference shouldn’t be properly explained in our churches. In the Old Testament, we see that defending against the enemy shouldn’t be a sin.”
Husiev admitted that originally the truth of being involved in killing was “hard”.
“I later found myself stuffed with joy after successful attacks. I struggled with whether this was normal. But that is war,” he continued.
Even in war, nonetheless, Husiev said he at all times tries to act with integrity and in alignment with Christian values and principles.
“I never hide what I think. My commander knows I’m an Evangelical. People know my principles and admire my family and church support. They know I won’t do certain things, like lie about statistics,” he said.
He added that the ministry of chaplains in such situations was vital but in addition must be grounded in shared suffering and adversity.
“Jesus lived amongst His followers—He was right there with them, sleeping, talking, and eating. That’s how He made a difference. Chaplains have to live the lifetime of soldiers to be efficient. If they live distant and just drop by occasionally, it would only arouse anger,” he said.
Facing the threat that death could come at any moment can also be “hard” he said, but added that prayers, each his own and from others, pastoral support and the scriptures all help, as does the knowledge that God is at all times with him.
“I consider and heart probably the most vital knowledge about God. During difficult times, I remember what God says. One of probably the most encouraging passages is Isaiah 41:8-11, which jogs my memory to not fear because God is with me, strengthening and upholding me,” he said.
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