2022-02-26 01:14:27
Address of Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk
Parliament of Ukraine forcefully condemns the criminal actions in a large-scale aggression against our country and our nation launched by the Russian Federation.
The military forces of the Russian Federation consciously and systematically use weapons against peaceful civilians, causing mass destruction and countless human losses, breaking the norms of international humanitarian law.
Russian invaders conduct mass rocket strikes on residential areas and civilian objects in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, and other Ukrainian towns.
Armed forces of the Russian Federation attacked a bomb shelter and a kindergarten, resulting in casualties among children in Ochtyrka. Children died from the invaders’ attacks on Chyhyev. When Russian war criminals took aim at a boarding school in Vyshgorod, near Kyiv, children miraculously got evacuated on time.
Using heavy weaponry, Russians shot at residential high-rises, destroyed power plants and infrastructure, education facilities, including military academies, places for young boys and girls. This captures the terrifying picture of Ukrainian towns at this moment.
These actions are flagrant war crimes and crimes against humanity.
We want to believe that Europe hasn’t forgotten the horror of fascism, when the inhabitants of European cities hid from Nazi air raids in bomb shelters.
The slogan "Never Again!" united the whole world in its rejection of totalitarianism, aggression, and mass murder.
Today, when one country has again violated international law and attacked a neighboring state, we call on the world to remember that this "Never Again!" means that children must never again hide in bomb shelters, and young children must never again be killed by the aggressor's missile attacks.
We call on the world not to remain silent, but to recognize the barbaric actions of the Russian Federation as war crimes and crimes against humanity, and to prosecute the war criminals responsible.
Silence, inaction or an attempt to justify these crimes will be perceived by Ukrainian society and the entire civilized world as complicity in the criminal actions of the aggressor.
But we sincerely thank all those who don’t keep silent. To all the countries, parliaments, and governments that in these difficult times for Ukraine show solidarity and support, and provide aid, weapons, and equipment that can save the lives of civilians. Your help is invaluable.
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