Appeal of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations to the Global Community of Believers

Source: vrciro.org.ua

The war waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine—imperialistic and predatory in its very nature—has brought untold suffering, grief, and loss to the Ukrainian people. It has resulted in the destruction of cities and civilian infrastructure, the brutal violation of human rights and freedoms in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including religious persecution, the closure of places of worship, torture and killings of clergy from various denominations, the forced migration of millions and the separation of families, the abduction of Ukrainian children, and horrific treatment of both military personnel and civilian captives.

In recent months, the situation has become especially intolerable. Russian military aggression, emboldened by the silence and inaction of powerful global actors, has escalated significantly and is increasingly targeting civilians in cities and villages far from the front lines. Meanwhile, the international community often looks away in shame or silence from these atrocities—despite recognizing, in words and convictions, that the ideology of the so-called “Russian World” which fuels this aggression poses a threat not only to Ukraine but to global peace and security.

Therefore, we, the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, address the global community of believers with a desperate cry concerning the humanitarian and spiritual catastrophe unfolding in Ukraine as a result of the Russian Federation’s aggressive war.

We call upon people of faith in democratic nations, and all individuals of goodwill, to raise a united voice for truth and justice. We urge you to use every available means of influence to bring an end to this horrific war and to ensure that the criminal actions of the aggressor are justly condemned, in accordance with Higher Justice.

We, who have endured these horrors firsthand, affirm that peace is not merely the absence of war—it is the restoration of justice, dignity, and the right to self-determination. Only by condemning evil and refusing to reward it can we establish a genuine and lasting peace.

May our united prayers and actions become a powerful sign of humanity’s solidarity in the face of evil – a force that threatens the spiritual and moral foundations of civilization.

Kyiv, 8 July, 2025 (Quelle: www.risu.ua, 9. Juli 2025)