News

WCC expresses abhorrence at reported atrocities in Ukraine

World Council of Churches acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, upon hearing reports that give stronger indications of grave violations of international law in Ukraine, expressed abhorrence at these reported atrocities, and called for full investigation.

Available in:
Family of Ukrainian refugees - father holds a child in his arms

A father holds a child in his arms, as a family of Ukrainian refugees participate in an activity for children at the AIDRom offices in Bucharest, Romania, where they have been offered shelter. Following the Russian military invasion in Ukraine starting on 24 February 2022, more than half a million refugees have fled across the Ukrainian border into Romania.

Photo:
Albin Hillert/WCC
04 April 2022
Russia
Ukraine
Regions
Europe
Programme activity
Peace-building: Conflict transformation & Reconciliation
Human Dignity and Rights
Commission of the Churches on International Affairs

“War is a context inherently conducive to such brutality, which underlines the need for systems of legal accountability to prosecute perpetrators, in order to curb the worst in humanity,” said Sauca. "Moreover, it underscores the urgent necessity of bringing this terrible conflict to an immediate end, for the sake of preventing yet more death, injury and destruction of communities.”

Sauca added: "We appeal to those responsible for conceiving, pursuing and supporting this war, to stop the bloodshed and destruction, and to save the lives of all the children, women and men in the way of their ambition."

WCC statement on evidence of atrocities in Ukraine

WCC convenes roundtable on Ukraine, calls for diplomacy instead of threats, dialogue instead of confrontation (WCC press release 30 March 2022)

Church response to refugees, “I’m seeing the image of God in you" (WCC news release 24 March 2022) 

Related programmes
Related Content
See more