The Church in Times of Crisis: The Impact of the Russia–Ukraine War on Seventh-day Adventist Relations

The Russian aggression against Ukraine has profoundly affected the religious landscapes of both nations. While recent scholarship has increasingly addressed interdenominational relations among Russian and Ukrainian Christians during the ongoing war, little attention has been given to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in this context. This article explores the impact of the Russia–Ukraine war on the relationship between Russian and Ukrainian members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I argue that, although a sense of ecclesiastical unity had characterized Adventist communities in both countries since the denomination’s introduction to the region in the nineteenth century, a gradual deterioration in relations began following the 2013 Euromaidan protests. The article traces the breakup of the relationship between Russian and Ukrainian Adventists in light of the full-scale invasion launched in 2022, which has challenged the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s traditionally non-political stance. By doing so, it contributes to a broader understanding of how geopolitical conflict influences religious identity, interchurch relations, and the intersection of religion and politics within global Adventism.