Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Week 235 of the War: The Solution Is Clear—Once Russia Stops Killing, the War Will End
We endorse the appeal to Pope Leo XIV to declare August 24, Ukraine’s Independence Day, a World Day of Prayer for Peace in Ukraine. This was stated by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, in his traditional video address during the 235th week of the sacrilegious war that the Russian Federation is waging against Ukraine.
The aftermath of a massive Russian missile and bomb attack on Zaporizhzhia on the night of August 11, 2026. Photo: Ivan Fedorov / Telegram
The Primate noted that Russia continues to attack our homeland and our peaceful cities and villages day and night—from sea, land, and air. Our soldiers—young men and women—are heroically defending Ukraine on the front lines.
According to the UN monitoring mission, July was the deadliest month of the war since the start of the full-scale invasion. In July, 437 people were reported killed and 2,610 wounded.
“And these are only the official figures. These are the highest numbers of adult deaths and injuries since May 2022. At the same time, this is the highest number of children killed and wounded in Ukraine since April 2022,” said the Head of the Church.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav argues that the growing suffering of Ukrainians does not lead to despair but, on the contrary, strengthens our resolve and our determination to defend Ukraine: “We are realizing more and more distinctly that the solution to ending this war is straightforward: once Russia stops killing us, the war will end. However, if Ukraine stops defending itself, it will mean the end of life for millions of people whom Russian aggression will doom to genocide.”
However, the spiritual leader assured us that the aggressor will never succeed: “Therefore, once again, on behalf of the multimillion-strong Ukrainian people, we proclaim to the whole world: Ukraine stands, Ukraine fights, Ukraine prays!”
According to him, the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations has appealed to the World Council of Churches, to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, and to all people of good will, calling for August 24 to be declared a Global Day of Prayer for Peace in Ukraine—the day Ukraine celebrates its Independence Day.
“I would like to endorse this appeal from the Churches and various religious communities of Ukraine and ask all people of good will: pray, join in this prayer, so that the Lord God may stop the war in Ukraine and free humanity from the demon of war, which every day reaps new victims with the scythe of death on Ukrainian soil,” the Primate urged.
