On what should have been a sacred and peaceful day of worship, tragedy struck the city of Sumy in northeastern Ukraine, turning Palm Sunday into a day of mourning and devastation.
Just 50 kilometers from the Russian border, Sumy became the site of a deadly missile strike, as two Russian ballistic missiles landed in the city centre around 10 a.m., right as the faithful were making their way to church.
The attack reportedly killed at least 34 people, including 15 children children, and injured over 100. The victims, many of whom were preparing to celebrate the beginning of Holy Week, instead found themselves caught in a carnage.
There’s nothing left but to turn to the Lord
In a brief statement to Vatican News, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, conveyed a sense of helplessness in the face of such senseless violence. “There’s nothing left but to turn to the Lord to defend us, because it seems that no other force is capable of protecting peace and life,” he said.
The Vatican Nuncio recalled that many of the victims, were churchgoers of different Christian denominations who were going to church to celebrate the beginning of Holy Week, making the tragedy even more poignant. This year Churches of different celebrate Easter on the same date due due to the alignment of the Gregorian and Julian calendars.
Strong condemnation of the attack from the World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has also called on the international community to protect the victims from such aggression, and to hold the perpetrators accountable by all available means.
In a statement released on Monday the ecumenical body strongly condemned the attack, demanding that those responsible stop shedding innocent blood in pursuit of their territorial and political ambitions.
As Christians prepare to celebrate Easter WCC again prayed 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.
European Union: yet another war crime
Sunday's attack on Sumy is the second large-scale strike with high casualties in just a few days. Just over a week ago, a deadly missile raid hit Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of the Ukrainian president, killing around 20 people, including nine children.
“A terrible Russian ballistic missile attack on Sumy,” wrote President Zelensky on Telegram. “Enemy missiles hit an ordinary city street, everyday life: houses, schools, cars on the road. And this happens on a day when people are going to church—Palm Sunday, the feast of the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem.”
“Horrific scenes from Sumy,” wrote NATO's acting spokesperson, Allison Hart, on social media. “Our thoughts are with the Ukrainian people on this sacred day for many.”
The European Union ambassador, Katarina Mathernova, called the “horrible Russian attack” on Sumy “another in a series of war crimes.”
European Union foreign ministers are meeting in Luxembourg on Monday
to discuss future moves and possible fresh sanctions against Russia.