Symposium: Spiritual Care and Military Medicine: Insights from the War in Ukraine

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Frank de Winne (KMS - ERM)

Frank de Winne

KMS - ERM
Description

Registration Now Open

The Spiritual Domain of Total Force Fitness (TFF SPIFIT) and the Religious and Moral Assistance Services (SARM/DRMB)of the Directorate General Health & Wellbeing invite you to a half-day symposium exploring the spiritual dimension of military medicine, with reflections drawn from the experience of the war in Ukraine.

📅 27 April 2026
⏰ 09:00 – 13:00 | Coffee reception from 08:30
📍 RMA – Salle Frank De Winne
🗣️ Working language: English, with Ukrainian–English interpretation

Attire: for Military BDCS or Admin.

 

PROGRAM:

8:30 – 09:00
Registration, Coffee and Refreshments
 
09:00 – 09:05
Welcome Remarks - BDG Régis BORNAIN
 
09:05 – 09:10
Introduction - MAJ Tatiana LETOVALTSEVA
 
09:10 – 09:25
Keynote Address - BDG An VAN ROMPAY
 
09:25 – 09:45
Chaplains within the Ukrainian Medical Forces Command: Operational Experience and Current Challenges - Chaplain MAJ Oleg SKNAR
 
09:45 - 10.05
Lessons Learned from MASCAL Exercises - Med LCL Geert COREMANS 
 
10:05 – 10:25
Religious Support under Conditions of Modern Warfare - Chaplain CPT Rostyslav VYSOCHAN
 
10:25 – 10:40
Coffee Break
 
10:40 – 11:00
Death Management During Large-Scale Conflicts  - Med LCLWerner JACOBS
 
11:00 – 11:30
Spiritual Care in Mass-Casualty Situations in Ukraine  - Chaplain MAJ Andriy APAROV
 
11:30 – 11:50
Organisation of Military Chaplaincy Services in Ukraine - COL Oleh VOVKOTECHA
 
11:50 – 12:20
Round Table Discussion
 
12:20 – 12:40
Questions and Answers
 
12:40 – 12:50
Closing Remarks

About the Symposium

The war in Ukraine has highlighted the challenges faced by armed forces in responding to mass-casualty situations (MASCAL) and mortuary affairs, as well as the broader human and ethical dimensions of military operations.

One important but often less visible aspect concerns the role of military chaplains in supporting personnel confronted with death, trauma, and moral injury.

Ukrainian chaplains and their service coordinator will share firsthand experiences of how spiritual support is organized and implemented in a wartime medico-spiritual context.

Ukrainian military chaplains will address the following topics:

  • Chaplains in the Ukrainian Medical Forces Command

  • Spiritual Care in Mass-Casualty Situations

  • Religious Support in the Conditions of Modern Warfare

  • Mortuary Affairs: Legal, Spiritual, and Practical Approaches in Ukraine

  • Organization of Military Chaplaincy in Ukraine

 

Additional presentations will provide the Belgian perspective on those topics and highlight scientific gaps related to spiritual and medical fitness in Belgium, followed by a round-table discussion.

Who Should Attend?

This event is open to Belgian Defence personnel, academics, and researchers with an interest in:

  • military medicine

  • spiritual care

  • military ethics

  • operational resilience

 

Attendance is free. Places are limited — register early to confirm your participation.

MIL ID / Civilian ID required. 

 

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