In the years 1700-1721, Poland, together with a number of other European nations, was involved in a chronic armed conflict, henceforth known as the Great Northern War. For several years, Poland was the scene of devastating warfare: parts of the country were depopulated, the social fabric was disrupted, and the economy was paralyzed. Jesuit monasteries in the Red Russian cities of Yaroslavl, Krasnystaw, Krosno, Lviv and Przemyśl were going through difficult times. Since foreign and Polish troops were accommodated in their buildings, they had to suspend their normal activities. The plagues that broke out after the war devastation took a huge toll, sparing neither the Jesuits nor their students. General insecurity and social conflict have led to a steady decline in student numbers at each university. However, constant adversity did not cause the Jesuits to give up. They opened two more universities and intensified their ministry (data show a sharp increase in the number of preaching trips and confessions). They also tried to alleviate the suffering of plague victims, organized help for those in need, administered sacraments and buried the dead. Many Jesuits paid with their lives for their selfless efforts. Despite political unrest, the Jesuits continued their ministry among the local population, both of the Latin and Byzantine rites (i.e. Uniates), and continued to undertake missions. Jesuit colleges and their estates suffered huge losses during the war. While their property was destroyed or robbed by the troops, the Jesuits had to pay all kinds of tributes to the commanders of foreign and Polish armies. Although various construction projects that were the pride of the Jesuits were interrupted by the war, they were not abandoned forever.