Today, the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, issued an address regarding the massive missile and drone attack that Russia launched at on the night of Maundy Thursday. The consequences of the shelling of a residential building in the Sviatoshynskyi district of Kyiv were particularly tragic.
“This night, on Maundy Thursday, Ukraine sees another night of fear as a result of a massive missile and drone attack by Russia. The consequences of this barbaric aggression are especially tragic for the residents of the Svyatoshynskyi district of Kyiv, where a search and rescue operation is ongoing amid the rubble of a destroyed building, where phone calls are heard from under the ruins, where two children are yet to be found…”, His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted in his address.
According to the data provided in the post, at least eight civilians were killed in the attack. In addition to the already identified victims, rescuers found fragments of bodies whose identities remain unclear. More than 70 people were injured, including children and a pregnant woman.
“I express my sincere condolences to the families of the dead. We pray for all those innocently killed tonight – at least eight peaceful residents who became victims of a criminal attack. May the Lord, who rose from the dead, receive the souls of the innocently killed into His Kingdom, and grant healing and strength to the injured,” the Head of the UGCC wrote.
In his address, His Beatitude Sviatoslav expressed gratitude to the rescuers and medics working at the site of the tragedy: “I thank all the rescuers, medics, and military who fearlessly and sacrificially saved lives this night and now continue to work at the scene of the tragedy, pulling people out of the rubble, providing assistance to those who need it most. You stand on guard of humanity and love for your neighbor.”
At the end of the address, the Head of the UGCC called on the international community to take more action to stop Russian aggression: “I call on religious leaders, heads of state and public figures across the international community to speak in unison, to make a single appeal, to take joint action to stop Russian aggression against Ukraine. Let us help to silence the weapons on our long-suffering land, to restrain hostilities, to establish a just and lasting peace,” His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized.
