Sadness upon sadness. The number of children killed in yesterday’s devastating Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy has risen to seven, bringing the total death toll to 34. A total of 119 people were reported injured, including 15 children. Oleg Strelka, spokesperson for the State Emergency Service in the Sumy region, released the latest figures. There is a strong wave of outrage across the country. The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organisations (AUCCRO) issued a statement saying: “These actions remind us that in reality, for a state that describes itself as the ‘Holy Rus’, nothing is sacred. There is no respect for the value of human life, let alone Christian and Jewish religious festivities.” The note continues: “We, the heads of the Ukrainian Churches and religious organisations, strongly condemn the acts of terrorism perpetrated by the Russian Federation against the cities and villages of Ukraine.”
“We call on the world’s great powers to take all necessary steps to stop Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, and to strengthen Ukraine’s capacity for self-defence and for the protection of human life.”
The World Council of Churches (WCC) also made a direct appeal to “those responsible for these despicable attacks to stop shedding the blood of innocent lives in pursuit of their territorial and political ambitions. We call on the international community to protect those affected by these attacks and demand that those responsible be held accountable for their actions through all available means.” In a release, WCC general secretary Rev. Jerry Pillay recalled that only a week ago, on 4 April, a Russian ballistic missile hit a playground in Kryvyi Rih, central Ukraine, killing 19 civilians, including nine children. But yesterday’s Russian missile attack in Sumy was “even more deadly.”
“Human wickedness and brutality continue unabated, claiming innocent lives even in this Holy Week,” he said.
“In the mighty name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, let us pray this Holy Week for peace, for an end to this violence and for a conversion of hearts, so that war-minded mentality may give way to peace- and justice-seeking hearts, which are the foundation of true peace,” said Rev. Pillay on behalf of all WCC member Churches.
Ukrainians reeling from shock. “With deep sorrow we learned of the brutal attack on Sumy,” said Monsignor Vasyl Tuchapets, the Greek Catholic exarch of Kharkiv, in whose territory the city of Sumy is located. “Russian missiles fell on the centre of the city. The day when people were preparing to celebrate the great Christian feast of the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem turned into a day of mourning for Sumy and the whole of Ukraine. There are no more words. More than 30 people were killed, more than 80 were injured and children were among the victims,” the bishop said with a heavy heart. “We convey our condolences to the families of the victims. We offer our prayers for the dead and the wounded.”
Monsignor Vitaliy Kryvytskyi, the (Latin rite) Catholic bishop of the Kyiv-Zhytomyr diocese, condemned the attack in the strongest terms. “Some politicians seem to have forgotten the axiom: there can be no negotiations with terrorists”, the bishop wrote in a statement on Facebook, which was reposted by the Ukrainian Bishops’ Conference. The bishop warned politicians against reaching “an agreement devoid of justice and moral values”, with negotiations aimed at gaining “riches at the expense of money soaked in blood and hatred.” He added:
“God is their judge. And so is history. Murderous dictators and their accomplices will one day have their place in history books, where they will be remembered for their infamy.”
