In Soumy, in northeast of Ukraine, two Russian missiles fell on faithful who gathered for celebrations. The apostolic nonce invites us to “turn to the Lord so that he defends us”, because “it seems that no other force is able to protect peace and life”.
Francesca Sabattinelli – Cité Du Vatican
They were going to pray, but they died. Palm Sunday Sunday was tainted with blood in Soumy, northeast of Ukraine, 50 kilometers from the border with Russia, struck by a Russian attack which left at least 34 dead, including several children, and at least 117 injured including 15 children. Two ballistic missiles struck the heart of the city around 10 a.m., while the faithful, in the crowded streets for the branches Sunday, gathered for mass which marks the entrance of Christians in Holy Week. The images show devastating scenes, with bodies strewn in the streets and firefighters trying to turn off the flames of the vehicles in the middle of the rubble of destroyed buildings.
The Nuncio Kulbokas: Death on the way to prayer
“It only remains to turn to the Lord”this is the invocation of the apostolic nuncio to kyiv, Mgr Visvaldas Kulbokas. “As you know, this year we are celebrating Easter together according to the Gregorian calendar and the Julien calendar”he said in dramatic accents to the Vatican media. “Today, it was twigs on Sundays. Even in Soumy, faithful, probably various confessions, went to the church to pray. More than 30 people were killed during the attack, which hit the city center. It is the beginning of Holy Week and it only remains to turn to the Lord so that he protects us, because it seems that no other force is able to protect peace and life. May the Lord have mercy on us ”said the diplomat of the Holy See.
The European Union: another war crime
The attack on Sunday against the city of Soumy is the second of large -scale with a high number of victims in a few days, after a murderous missile strike in the hometown of the Ukrainian president, Kryvyi Rih, a little more than a week ago, killing about twenty people, including nine children. “A terrible attack on Russian ballistic missiles on Soumy”and écrit Volodymyr Greeny Sur Telegram. “Enemies missiles strike an ordinary street in the city, daily life: houses, schools, cars on the road … And that occurs one day when people go to church, twice on Sundays, the feast of the Lord’s entrance to Jerusalem”. “Horrible scenes in Soumy”wrote the acting spokesperson for NATO, Allison Hart, on social networks, “Our thoughts go to the Ukrainian people on this sacred day for many”, While the European Union Ambassador Katarina Mathernova qualified “The horrible Russian attack” against soumy of “New war crime” in a long series.
