The truth about faith is measured not by words, but by actions — Lubinets on the attack on the Lavra
Kyiv • UNN
Due to the Russian attack on the Lavra and cultural centers, Ombudsman Lubinets appealed to international organizations. The occupiers have already destroyed 742 religious sites in Ukraine.
Russia has for years built a myth of itself as a protector of Orthodoxy and a special spiritual mission, but the truth about any faith is measured not by words, but by deeds. This was stated by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, commenting on the Russian attack on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, UNN reports.
Details
According to him, "when a missile flies into a sanctuary, it destroys not only walls, it destroys the lie upon which this story was built."
History has already seen something similar. In 1941, while retreating from Kyiv, the NKVD blew up the Assumption Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Back then, it was the logic of destruction – to leave behind nothing that holds memory and roots. Today we see another form of that same logic: striking at sanctuaries, museums, cultural pillars – at everything that makes a nation a nation
He called for this latest crime to be recorded immediately and addressed the following regarding the matter:
- UNESCO Director-General Khaled el-Enany;
- Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine Danielle Bell;
- President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Mirjana Spoljaric Egger;
- Head of the International Criminal Court Country Office in Ukraine Kaupo Kand;
- Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty;
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres;
- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
In total, the occupiers have destroyed 742 religious sites in Ukraine. Tonight, in addition to the Lavra, the Mystetskyi Arsenal, the Dovzhenko Film Studios, and the House of Organ and Chamber Music in Dnipro were damaged... Is this a coincidence or a mistake? I don't know who could believe such nonsense
He added that the targeted destruction of cultural and religious sanctuaries is not just acts of terror, but war crimes that fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
"Every destroyed temple and museum is a direct violation of the Rome Statute and the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property. This crime is not only about Ukraine, but also about the world's cultural heritage, which they are trying to erase before everyone's eyes. And if the world remains silent, the next strikes will only be closer to what seemed untouchable just yesterday," the Ombudsman added.
As a reminder
Ukraine is convening urgent meetings of the UN Security Council, as well as taking relevant steps within the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and UNESCO in connection with Russia's latest attacks against Ukraine.
Ukraine is also initiating relevant procedures within UNESCO and other international mechanisms, demanding an "immediate and adequate response" to the Russian strike that significantly damaged the buildings of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.