Patriarch Filaret asked the leaders of NATO member states to close the sky over Ukraine.
In his appeal, he noted in particular:
"Russia's treacherous war against Ukraine is going on in Ukraine. For more than one day and more than one week the bloodiest tragedy of mankind since World War II has been going on in the heart of Europe. Putin, the new Hitler, has set his sights on destroying the Ukrainian people. As we can see, all attempts by European leaders to appease the aggressor have yielded no results. It was the same with the leader of Nazi Germany in 1939. I have personally lived through all the troubles of the past war and testify: the present one must be stopped immediately, and this can only be done by force and unity.
The screaming cynicism is that our country was attacked by a state which, by signing the Budapest Memorandum in 1994, undertook to be the guarantor of our security. We disarmed and we were attacked.
In its time, Ukraine took the unprecedented step of voluntarily giving up nuclear weapons, thus demonstrating its love of peace. No other country had ever done such a thing. It was a gesture of true sacrifice in the name of world peace.
On February 24 this year, Russia attacked Ukraine for no reason whatsoever, a sovereign state that aspires to develop as a European democracy. That is why totalitarian Russia hates us and seeks our complete extermination.Russian occupation troops at this time are bombing our cities and villages, using all kinds of weapons, including those prohibited by international treaties and conventions, while civilians, children and elderly people, who do not have to do anything, suffer. With constant and deadly airstrikes, the Russian Kafirs level entire cities: Kharkov, Chernigov, Mariupol, Kherson, Gostomel, Volnovakha, Bucha, Irpen and others.
It is difficult to describe the atrocities that Putin's Russia is committing on the sovereign territory of Ukraine: killing civilians, destroying homes and social infrastructure. There are numerous facts of destruction of churches, even murder of clergymen. Thousands of people have been left homeless, without medical care, communications, water and food. Just think, today, because of Russia's aggression, in cities occupied by it, children are born in cold cellars, under fire, and the dead have no opportunity to be buried according to Christian rites.
Moscow stops at nothing. It has resorted to nuclear terrorism by seizing the Chernobyl and Zaporozhe nuclear power plants, thus endangering the safety of all mankind.
In recent weeks, Russia has shown that it is a terrorist state. At present, at the beginning of the XXI century, the whole world sees the actual genocide of Ukrainians and an attempt to destroy their state.
Every year, remembering World War II, the entire civilized world said "Never again," and now Putin's Russia has decided to repeat this terrible world crime and started a war. In its time, Hitler and his bloody henchmen managed to stop it, when all mankind united.Today, the world also needs unity and Christian love to be effective. Putin must be stopped because he is a threat to all mankind.
Ukrainians now sacrificially lay down their lives not only for themselves, but also for the ideals of freedom and democracy and peace and quiet throughout Europe.
Patriarch Filaret notes that "Ukraine seeks peace! But it will never capitulate, it will not kneel before the enemy and aggressor. We will fight for our land to the end and we will definitely win, because we have the truth with us, and that means God! Now it is time for everyone to decide who you are with, truth or lie, God or devil, victim or aggressor, Ukraine or Russia?
On behalf of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, whose believers are not only on the territory of our long-suffering country, but also in Europe, USA, Canada and all over the world, I testify that we fully support all actions of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and representatives of the Ukrainian authorities to protect the independence and integrity of Ukraine.
I appeal to you, dear leaders of NATO member states, with a request - in the name of Jesus Christ, in the name of peace, close the sky of Ukraine from Russian aggressors, save people's lives. Your inaction will make you accomplices of Putin's terrible crime of manslaughter and will put an eternal stigma on you and all future generations.
"By shutting down the sky over Ukraine, you will become peacemakers, saving the lives of hundreds, perhaps thousands of people. And as the Holy Scripture says: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they are called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9).
It is not too late to save human life. Every minute of your procrastination is the last for man in this world. Remember this, do not hesitate, protect the world. May the Lord give you determination and firmness in doing so.
I invoke God's blessing on you!", said Filaret.
