On October 2, 2025, a regular meeting of the Council of Evangelical Protestant Churches of Ukraine (CEPCU) was held in Kyiv, where participants discussed aspects of CEPCU’s international engagement, as well as current issues in church–state relations and chaplaincy ministry. The meeting took place at the Bible House of the Ukrainian Bible Society.

The session began with a Scripture reading and prayer led by Bishop Oleksandr Zaitsev, Senior Bishop of the Ukrainian Evangelical Church and Chair of CEPCU.

During the meeting, participants discussed pressing matters concerning church–state relations in Ukraine, including the implementation of Resolution No. 76 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, which, among other provisions, regulates the exemption of clergy from mobilization. They also addressed the monitoring of religious persecution in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Heads and representatives of Evangelical churches emphasized the importance of safeguarding public morality during wartime and expressed concern over certain legislative initiatives (in particular, draft laws No. 13597, No. 9103, and others).

The chairing side informed the participants about CEPCU’s recent admission to the European Evangelical Alliance, as well as about the delegation’s visit to Warsaw, which included meetings with the Evangelical Alliance of Poland, Ukrainian pastors leading Evangelical communities of Ukrainian refugees in Poland, and Vasyl Bodnar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Poland. It was noted that CEPCU’s membership in the European Evangelical Alliance opens new advocacy opportunities for Ukrainian Evangelical churches at the European level.

Special attention was devoted to the preparation for the annual Chaplaincy Forum, titled “United in Service — Standing Together.” The participants discussed and approved the program and the draft final resolution of the Forum. During the discussion, they emphasized the importance of such events, which promote experience sharing, strengthen coordination among chaplains, and contribute to the development of military chaplaincy within the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

It should be recalled that the first Chaplaincy Forum was organized by CEPCU in 2024. As part of this year’s Forum, a special event dedicated to the 20th anniversary of CEPCU’s founding will also be held.