"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,” said World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay. “The weapon targeted a civilian area, resulting in the deadliest attack on children since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine."

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

Pillay reiterated the WCC’s demand that those responsible for such reprehensible attacks stop shedding innocent blood in pursuit of 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,” said Pillay. “In the name of our Lord and Savior 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.”