UOC Primate appeals to Putin because of the situation in Mariupol

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry addressed the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in view of the situation around Mariupol and asked to withdraw the military and civilians from the hostilities area to a safe zone, reports news.church.ua.

“My pastoral duty is to request you to provide an opportunity for everyone willing to leave the city of Mariupol – both civilians and the military. At all times in different wars, the opposing sides found it possible to manifest humanism. We know that the Russian Federation has repeatedly acted as an intermediary in Syria in the evacuation of encircled combatants,” said the Primate of the UOC.

“In this regard, we hope that you will, in a Christian way, agree to the Extraction procedure for the Ukrainian garrison in Mariupol, and give the encircled civilians, policemen, border guards and military an opportunity to enter the territory controlled by Ukraine or the territory of third countries. Many countries will consider it an honor to mediate this operation. I ask you to choose either way in the Name of the Risen Christ,” His Beatitude added.

As the UOJ reported earlier, the Primate said that the UOC is ready to hold a procession to Azovstal to save people.

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