Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations
APPEAL ON THE NECESSITY OF THE INTRODUCTION OF A NO-FLY ZONE OVER UKRAINE AND THE RESPONSE TO HUMANITARIAN DISASTERS IN SELECT REGIONS
Millions of civilians of different nationalities and faiths who lived peacefully in Ukraine are facing a humanitarian catastrophe caused by Russia’s military invasion, air and missile strikes on residential areas, food warehouses, hospitals, maternity hospitals, schools, and other critical infrastructure facilities in Ukrainian cities.
As a result, since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, at least 82 children have been killed and more than 100 children have been injured. Russian troops damaged or destroyed more than 200 schools, 30 hospitals, and 1,500 residential buildings, including apartment buildings, and these numbers continue to increase.
Hundreds of thousands of civilians were besieged by Russian troops in the Kyiv region, Mariupol and Volnovakha in Donetsk region, without food, water, medical care, and other means of subsistence. At least 2187 civilians have already become the victims of the Russian blockade in Mariupol – they were killed as a result of constant shelling, including during attempts to evacuate through pre-agreed humanitarian corridors.
Since there is nothing more valuable than human life, the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations repeatedly calls on world leaders, OSCE member states, the EU, and NATO to take urgent measures to introduce a no-fly zone over the territory of Ukraine or to provide the Ukrainian army with modern air defense systems and fighter jets that can protect Ukrainian civilians from regular bombing and missile strikes by the Russian invaders.
In addition, the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations appeals to the leadership of the Russian Federation, international organizations, church hierarchs, and religious figures of the peoples of Russia to take urgent measures to organize humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of residents of Ukrainian cities and towns from areas where active hostilities continue to safe places of their own choice, as well as the immediate exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine.
We emphasize once again that in order to avoid any provocations, the evacuation of the civilian population through humanitarian corridors can be carried out by civilian volunteers and ministers of Churches and religious organizations, either accompanied by Ukrainian police officers or without their participation.
Even in times of the greatest upheavals, wars, and disputes, we must not forget about humanity and mercy. Each of us must do everything possible to preserve human life and establish peace through negotiations.
🔗 Source: https://vrciro.org.ua/en/statements/uccro-appeal-to-introduce-no-fly-zone-over-ukraine
🇺🇦 Українською: https://vrciro.org.ua/ua/statements/uccro-appeal-to-introduce-no-fly-zone-over-ukraine
#StandWithUkraine #StopRussianTerrorism #CloseTheSky #NoFlyZoneUA #Ukraine #Russia
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Yuri K. Kyiv
Jari Sippola
As Christians worldwide we must stand with prayers for Ukraine while it’s facing this terrible attack and invasion of Russia.
But it’s sad that the Christians of Ukraine call for the expansion of the war. In international politics, it has been made clear that introducing a no-fly zone over Ukraine would also draw NATO and other countries to war. Why do Ukraine’s Christians appeal to something that would expand the war even up to the Third World War?
And believers shouldn’t call for more weapons and fighter jets, but they should appeal to prayers and rely on God’s help. Ukraine’s refuge is not in weapons or in human strength but in the power of God. If we appeal to God, He is powerful to help in a supernatural way, without weapons.
Of course, it’s needed to call for organizing humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians and to appeal to stop the horrible war.