The World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations (WFOU) has condemned the Russian missile strike on the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Ukraine’s most sacred sites. The organization stressed that the deliberate destruction of internationally recognized historical monuments is a war crime, and the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS) has called on U.S. citizens to demand further security assistance to Ukraine, including air defense systems.
This was reported by the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations (WFOU).
“Russia’s direct missile strike on a historical monument included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in the capital of Ukraine, the 11th-century Pechersk Lavra, which set this shrine on fire in a devastating fire, is so horrific that words cannot adequately express the rage and condemnation felt by the Board of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations, our UN Office in New York and Geneva, as well as the organizations of the WFUWO network in 30 countries around the world,” the WFUWO statement said.
The WFUWO emphasized that the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra has remained a spiritual center and one of the main symbols of Kyiv and Ukraine for centuries.
“The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is a shrine – a place of spiritual refuge and protection for many generations over the centuries. It is recognized worldwide as one of the symbols of the city of Kyiv,” the organization noted.
The federation also expressed its condolences to those affected by the missile attack and recalled that the deliberate destruction of internationally recognized historical monuments is a war crime.
“Let us remind the world that the deliberate destruction of an internationally recognized historical site is considered a war crime,” the appeal states.
The attack was also reported by the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS) and the Washington Public Affairs Bureau of the Ukrainian Congressional Committee of America (UCCA), which drew attention to the fact that the damage to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was another example of the destruction of Ukraine’s cultural and religious heritage during Russian aggression.
The UNIS material notes that during the years of full-scale war, Russia has systematically struck religious buildings of various denominations, as well as cultural heritage sites, including those under UNESCO protection.
“The attack on the Lavra reveals a deeper, obvious truth: the Kremlin’s appeal to Christianity is not a moral principle, but a political tool,” UNIS noted.
The report also notes that Ukraine needs continued international support to protect civilians and cultural heritage sites from Russian attacks.
“The Russian terrorist attack on June 15 underscores why continued U.S. security assistance to Ukraine remains critically important,” the report says.
In this regard, the Ukrainian National Information Service and the Washington Public Affairs Bureau of the Ukrainian Congressional Committee of America have called on U.S. citizens to appeal to government officials to support the provision of air defense systems and other security assistance to Ukraine.
Photo: Kyiv State Emergency Service
Author: Inna Mikhno