PRACTICES OF HUMANITARIAN AID TO THE CIVILIAN POPULATION IN FRONT-LINE REGIONS

Abstract

The article examines the practices, methods, and forms of humanitarian aid to the civilian population in the front-line regions of the Ukrainian Azov Sea coast, carried out by units of the Mariupol Chaplain Battalion. The stages of the formation of the volunteer and chaplain movement of Protestant communities in the context of the Russian Federation's military aggression against Ukraine are analyzed. The organizational and coordination aspects of the battalion's activities aimed at evacuating the population and providing humanitarian, medical, psychological, and social support to residents of frontline territories are highlighted. Particular attention is paid to humanitarian strategies that combine religious motivation with pragmatic forms of volunteering, which ensure an effective response to the challenges of wartime. It is shown that the battalion's activities are based on the principles of voluntariness, targeting, interfaith openness, inclusiveness of assistance, and high mobility. It is noted that the Mariupol Chaplain Battalion not only saves lives and meets people's basic needs but also creates a space of trust, empathy, and solidarity between the military, volunteers, and the civilian population. Thanks to its multidisciplinary structure, the battalion combines spiritual service, social work, and logistical activities, making it an example of effective interaction between religious organizations, public foundations, and military structures. It has been proven that the humanitarian activities of this unit contribute to strengthening the social stability of communities, preserving the moral potential of society, and humanising social relations during wartime. The results of the study are of scientific and practical importance for further research into the role of religious institutions in ensuring civil security, developing a culture of solidarity, and restoring the humanitarian sphere in Ukraine. The conclusions confirm the importance of integrating the spiritual factor into the crisis management system. The generalization of the experience of the Mariupol Chaplain Battalion can serve as a methodological basis for the development of state and public humanitarian response programs.