In the basement of the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in central London is the Ukrainian Welcome Centre that has been serving refugees since the start of a war that is about to enter its third year. The two-year anniversary is fast approaching in two day's time on 24 February, giving Ukrainian refugees who have had to make the UK their home away from home plenty to reflect upon.

The pastoral challenges faced by the Ukrainian Catholic Church, both in the UK and back in Ukraine, were highlighted by Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, the head of Ukrainian Catholics in the UK, during a 22 February press conference titled “Two Years of War: Heartbroken by Unbroken”, held in the cathedral compound.

Along with other panel members speaking at the event on a drizzly and damp Thursday morning in the British capital, the bishop also discussed the wider socio and geopolitical implications of the Ukraine war that shows no signs of ending soon.