The Religious situation in Ukraine and it’s influence on the establishment and development of military-religious relations in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (1991–2017)

The article analyzes the religious situation in the Ukrainian society, as well as its impact on the formation and development of military-religious relations in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 1991–2017. Religion, as one of the leading forms of social consciousness, is an important factor in the formation of civil society and in the development of channels of its communication with state institutions. The Church has traditionally played the role of an important subject of the socio-political life in the history of the Ukrainian people. The relationship between Russian-Ukrainian relations and their impact on state-religious relations in Ukraine and its Armed Forces has been studied. The main tendencies of the development of military-religious relations in the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been clarified. The transformation processes that influenced the change of the existing models of support of religious needs for the servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the studied period, are analyzed here/in this article. In particular, some historical aspects of socio-political processes that influenced the formation and development of military-religious relations, and the institutionalization of the military clergy (chaplaincy) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the period under study are highlighted. In today’s conditions, military chaplains have gained significant experience of service in the war zone, have strong national and patriotic convictions, are able to withstand significant psychological and physical stress, and are ready to carry out pastoral service in any environment.