WCC news: WCC denounces Russian campaign to terrorize people of Ukraine

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay denounced the continuing Russian campaign to terrorize the people of Ukraine, “exemplified by yesterday’s missile attacks on several Ukrainian cities which resulted in at least 30 deaths and more than 160 wounded,” he said. August 2022: Destruction caused by the invasion of the Russian Federation in Irpin, Kyiv region, Ukraine. Photo: Ivars Kurpcis/WCC 30 December 2023 Russia struck targets in Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Lviv, and elsewhere in the early hours of 29 December, hitting a maternity hospital, a shopping centre, and residential buildings.   “Such attacks on civilian targets—in most cases far from the frontlines—and Russia’s evident efforts to terrorize the entire Ukrainian population are a clear and outrageous violation of international law and of fundamental moral precepts,” said Pillay. “The WCC is committed to continuing to seek ways in which, with and through its member churches, it can promote dialogue, peace, and an end to the violence and fear that Russia's invasion has inflicted on the people of Ukraine.”   Pillay concluded: “As we approach the new year, the WCC invites all member churches and all people of faith and goodwill to join in praying for a change of course by the Russian leadership, for respect for international humanitarian and human rights law, for full accountability for the many crimes committed, and for a secure and sustainable peace for the people of Ukraine.”   _________________________________________ WCC statement on Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities   The World Council of Churches (WCC) denounces the continuing Russian campaign to terrorize the people of Ukraine, exemplified by yesterday’s missile attacks on several Ukrainian cities which resulted in at least 30 deaths and more than 160 wounded. In what is reported to have been its largest missile bombardment of the war so far, Russia struck targets in Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Lviv and elsewhere in the early hours of Friday 29 December, including a maternity hospital, a shopping centre and residential buildings. Such attacks on civilian targets - in most cases far from the frontlines - and Russia’s evident efforts to terrorize the entire Ukrainian population are in clear and outrageous violation of international law and of fundamental moral precepts. The WCC is committed to continuing to seek ways in which, with and through its member churches, it can promote dialogue, peace and an end to the violence and fear that Russia's invasion has inflicted on the people of Ukraine. As we approach the new year, the WCC invites all member churches and all people of faith and goodwill to join in praying for a change of course by the Russian leadership, for respect for international humanitarian and human rights law, for full accountability for the many crimes committed, and for a secure and sustainable peace for the people of Ukraine. Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay General Secretary  World Council of Churches

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland