World Council of Churches statement on the Russian missile attack on civillians in the Ukrainian city of Sumy during the celebration of Palm Sunday:

At the beginning of the Holy Week of Easter, the celebration of Palm Sunday in the Ukrainian city of Sumy was transformed into a day of lamentation, by yet another Russian missile attack. 

Just over one week ago, on 4 April a Russian ballistic missile struck near a playground in Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine, killing 19 civilians including nine children. The weapon targeted a civilian area, resulting in the deadliest attack on children since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

This Palm Sunday, Sumy’s people became the victims of an even more deadly Russian ballistic missile attack. According to the latest reports, 34 people were killed, and 117 injured, including 15 children.

Even in this Holy Week, human brutality and wickedness does not rest but continues to claim innocent victims.

The World Council of Churches again demands that those responsible for such reprehensible attacks stop shedding innocent blood in pursuit of their territorial and political ambitions. We appeal to the international community to protect the victims from such aggression, and to hold the perpetrators accountable by all available means.

In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we pray for peace in this Holy Week, for an end to this violence, and for a conversion of minds focused on war to hearts seeking peace and the justice on which true peace is founded.

Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay
general secretary 
World Council of Churches
(Quelle: www.oikoumene.org, 14. April 2025)