Different ethnic and religious communities of Ukraine: Close the sky – churches, mosques, synagogues are under the fire

The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience appealed to NATO member states and representatives of various ethnic and religious communities living in Ukraine to close the sky. The original statement is posted on the department’s website.

«We, the citizens of Ukraine, who belong to different ethnic and religious communities, the citizens of foreign countries living in Ukraine, call on NATO member states and all allies of Ukraine to take all possible measures for the security of the Ukrainian sky to protect human lives, life support facilities, projects of life support and the cultural heritage sites of Ukraine from mass destruction by Russian bombing», – states the appeal.

In addition, the statement emphasizes that Russia uses methods and means of warfare, which the UN International Convention prohibits. It also notes that as a result of the shelling of Ukrainian cities, people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds were killed.

«Russian troops have seized the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants, posing an unprecedented threat to the lives and health of Europe and the world. And the Russian armed forces are purposefully shelling peaceful blocks, hospitals and maternity hospitals, kindergartens, schools and universities, churches, mosques and synagogues. The memorial to the victims of the Holocaust in Kyiv – Babyn Yar – also came under rocket fire», – the statement said.

Among the signatories of the appeal:

• Akhtem Seitablaev, Crimean Tatar, Muslim, actor, director, director of the State Enterprise «The Crimean House»;
• Olena Arabadzhy, representative of the indigenous people of Ukraine – Karaite, Candidate of Geographical Sciences, member of the board of the Non-governmental Organization «Melitopol National-Cultural Karaite Society «Jamaat»;
• Tetyana Staneva, Ukrainian Bulgarian, director, cultural figure, director of the Non-governmental Organization «OKO»;
• Alim Aleyev, Deputy General Director of the Ukrainian Institute, co-founder of the Non-governmental Organization «Crimea SOS», member of the Ukrainian PEN;
• Emad Abu Alrub, President of the Ukrainian Center for Dialogue and Communications, NGO «Ukrainian-Arab Business Council»;
• Father Bohdan (Huliamov), Archpriest of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
• Eskender Bariev, Chairman of the Board of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Chairman of the Public Council at the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS);
• Petro Baloh, director of the Institute of St. Tomas, Kyiv;
• Leonid Finberh, editor-in-chief of the publishing house «Spirit and Letter»;
• Maxim Vasin, Executive Director of the Institute for Religious Freedom, Candidate of Law;
• Volodymyr Leisle on behalf of the Presidium of the Council of Germans of Ukraine;
• Tamara Sanhariieva, member of the board of the All-Ukrainian public organization «Diaspora of the Chechen people», director of the Sunday school for the study of language, traditions and culture of the Chechen people, translator;
• Lyudmyla Chyzhevska, Chair of the Presidium of the Czech National Council of Ukraine;
• Nina Plechak, Greek-Romaic, head of the Greek Society «Enotita», Federation of Greek Societies of Ukraine;
• Issa Sadio Diallo, on behalf of the African Council in Ukraine;
• Joseph Zisels on behalf of the Congress of National Communities of Ukraine and the Association of Jewish Organizations and Communities (Vaad of Ukraine);
• Refat Chubarov, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people;
• Myroslav Marynovych, Vice-Rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University.

The full list of signatories can be found here.

To join the application, follow the link.

As previously reported, the Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko called for closing the sky over Ukraine to avoid a humanitarian and cultural catastrophe.

Ukrainian writers and publishers also joined calls to close the sky.

It is worth noting that a closed sky will significantly reduce the risks of Russian missiles hitting Ukrainian strategic targets and settlements with civilians. That will reduce losses among both the Armed Forces and civilians. In addition, it will facilitate the struggle of the Ukrainian army.

Leading photo: The State Emergency Service of Ukraine