Ukraine: Statement of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations regarding recent acts of state terror committed by a “Permanent member of the UN Security Council” against Ukrainian cities

Since the beginning of 2026, the Russian Federation, which holds the status of a “permanent member of the United Nations Security Council,” has been carrying out deliberate, systematic, and massive daily attacks using dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles and hundreds of UAVs against the cities of Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Sumy, as well as other Ukrainian cities and villages. During these days, Russian state terrorists also struck the Lviv region, near the border with Poland, with a medium-range ballistic missile of the “Oreshnik” type.

As a result of these acts of Russian state terror against Ukraine, energy infrastructure facilities have been destroyed and damaged, numerous apartment buildings and private homes have been ruined, dozens of civilians have been killed, and hundreds wounded. These terrorist attacks by the Russian Federation are deliberately carried out during the winter cold, at temperatures as low as –15 to –20°C, with the aim of leaving millions of Ukrainian civilians—among them children, women, and the elderly—without electricity, heating, and drinking water. It is evident that all of this constitutes acts of state terror perpetrated by the Russian Federation, aimed at the genocide of the Ukrainian people. While being among the permanent members of the UN Security Council—and thus, by definition under international law, bearing special responsibilities to protect peace—the Russian Federation clearly, systematically, deliberately, and cynically disregards international humanitarian law and universal moral principles.

Such misanthropic actions by the Russian Federation unequivocally demonstrate that it is a terrorist state. Accordingly, religious figures of the Russian Orthodox Church and other denominations, as well as Russian citizens who support and approve this war and the killing of Ukrainians, are moral accomplices in crimes against humanity. Particularly cynical is the fact that the Russian Federation is committing these new acts of state terror during the period in which it celebrates the New Year and Christmas: instead of the festive ceasefire that was proposed, Russia has only multiplied its crimes during this time.

We resolutely condemn the terrorist attacks of the Russian Federation against Ukrainian cities and once again emphasize that any support for the Russian Federation constitutes assistance to its further aggression and terror, which entails responsibility—first and foremost before the Almighty.

We call on representatives of various denominations, international interfaith organizations, as well as representatives of non-governmental institutions, to condemn the terrorist attacks of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

We call on the member states of the United Nations, on the basis of the UN Charter and common sense, to condemn the Russian Federation—a permanent member of the UN Security Council—for its missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure.

We take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to Pope Leo XIV and the leaders of the global democratic community for their unwavering support of Ukraine, and for their resolute calls for the Russian regime to cease the targeting of Ukraine’s civilian and critical infrastructure. Furthermore, we extend our sincere thanks to people of goodwill worldwide for their steadfast support of the Ukrainian people, for their prayers for the cessation of Russian military aggression, and for the establishment of a just and lasting peace for both Ukraine and Europe.

Kyiv, 14th January 2026 (Quelle: www.vrciro.ua, 14. Januar 2026)