From the Head of the UGCC on the 91st day of the war: A blatant crime is happening in Ukraine - the Russian occupiers are pursuing a policy of depopulating Ukraine

“The whole east and south of Ukraine is on fire. Fierce fighting is taking place in Luhansk region. Today we received news that the enemy is advancing on Severodonetsk with great force and that heavy, bloody battles are being fought. Heavy fighting is also taking place in the Donetsk region and in the south of our homeland. Entire regions of eastern and southern Ukraine, including Zaporizhia and Dnipropetrovsk, are suffering from rocket attacks. The city of Mykolaiv was shelled from missile systems of volley fire “Tornado”. Chernihiv region suffers from various strikes inflicted by Russia directly from its territory”, the Primate noted in his address.

“Ukraine is standing. Ukraine is fighting, although it pays for this fight every day with the lives of its best sons and daughters. And Ukraine is praying, praying for the army and for the most vulnerable victims of this war. Our special prayer is for those Ukrainians who found themselves in the occupied territories, because it is the hardest for them today”, assured the Head of the UGCC.

Today His Beatitude Sviatoslav reflected on another way of sharing in the sins of others – by counsel.

We know, says the Archbishop, that war is a time when everyone makes their own choices. The war sowed each of us like wheat, a comparison Jesus Christ once used addressing the Apostle Peter. Along with numerous examples of the heroism of our defenders, we see cases of disgraceful behavior, collaboration with the enemy, supporting the crimes of the invaders. In particular, such unworthy situations were among the pro-Russian clergy in Luhansk and Donetsk regions: priests directed Russian bombs and shells at their own parishioners.

According to him, there are whole structures of sin, as St. John Paul II once called them, which participate in crimes that help to commit sins. Modern culture knows many types of such cooperation, or help, in committing sin. In many countries, the sin of euthanasia is committed, in which doctors participate by helping a person to commit suicide.

Therefore, the Father and the Head of the Church drew attention to the fact that a grievous crime is taking place in Ukraine – the Russian occupiers are pursuing a policy of depopulation of Ukraine.

“They are trying to do everything possible to get as many Ukrainians as possible to leave their land. The Minister of Defense of Russia openly said this yesterday. The occupiers are evicting Ukrainians from their homes or destroying the houses that their weapons can reach. They have already deported more than a million from the occupied territories. We know that only the occupied Kherson region is half depopulated today”, the Head of the UGCC explained.

“Another appalling crime that is currently lurking over forcibly displaced Ukrainians who have fled their homeland is human trafficking. Our Church is actively involved in combating this crime. However, we know that at the international level, human trafficking, like arms or drugs, is one of the most lucrative businesses of entire criminal gangs”, the Primate stressed.

“Oh God, bless Ukraine! Oh God, bless those who are victims of this Russian war today! Bless and take into Your care those who are forced to leave their homes, their land, their homeland. Oh Lord, help us all to properly serve those who are victims of international trafficking! Oh God, bless the Ukrainian army! Take the weakest into Your care, because You are always with them on their side”, the spiritual leader of Ukrainians asks.

The UGCC Department for Information