The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organisations has strongly denounced what it described as Russia’s “terrorist attacks” on the city of Sumy, where an airstrike during Palm Sunday observances claimed the lives of at least 34 people.
The deadly strike stands as the most devastating attack in the northeastern region of Ukraine so far in 2025.
The attack sent shockwaves through the international faith community.
Executive Director of Baptist World Alliance Women, Merritt Johnston, revealed she received a disturbing video from a BWA Women leader.
The footage captured the moment a bomb blast shattered glass during a church service in Sumy.
“We are heartbroken by this violence and continue to pray for just peace,” said Johnston, who also serves as director of communications for the Baptist World Alliance.
She added, “On this Holy Week, when we turn our hearts to the peace we have through Christ’s resurrection, we grieve for those who live daily with the tyranny of violence, even in places that should be sanctuaries.
“We call upon our global Baptist family to stand in prayer with our sisters and brothers who are suffering as they continue to serve their communities with a faith that bombs cannot destroy.”
The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations also issued a powerful condemnation of the strike, which came at a time when both Jews and Christians were preparing to mark sacred holidays, Passover and Easter.
“Such actions demonstrate that nothing is sacred for the state that declares itself to be ‘Holy Rus.’ Basic respect for the value of human life is absent, not to mention respect for the holidays of Christianity and Judaism,” the council said.
It also emphasized the rare unity among Christian denominations this year: “Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant Christians all are observing Easter on the same day this year.”
The council’s statement continued, “We, heads of Ukrainian Churches and Religious Organizations, strongly condemn the terrorist attacks by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian cities and villages and call on the world’s leading nations to take all possible measures to stop Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and to strengthen Ukraine’s capabilities to defend itself and protect life.”
They concluded with an appeal, “We call on all people of goodwill to pray for the victory of truth and a just peace for Ukraine.
“Our condolences go to the victims of Russian state terror and we beseech the Almighty for just retribution against the perpetrators of this and all other acts of Russian terror against the people of Ukraine.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also reacted strongly to the tragedy.
“The United States extends our deepest condolences to the victims of today’s horrifying Russian missile
