The unprecedented wave of 40 Russian missiles launched at cities across Ukraine, including a sickening attack on Kyiv’s largest children’s hospital in broad daylight, are unconscionable and must prompt a strong and coordinated response from the international community.
The Sydney and Brisbane Ukrainian communities rallied today to demand urgent action from the Australian government.
The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) is also urging donations to its Ukraine Crisis Appeal (UCA) which funds charities in Ukraine which help children impacted by cancer and their families. Some of the very children helped by UCA’s Australian donations have been affected by the Russian missile strike at Okhmatdyt Hospital, Kyiv.
‘Russia must be held accountable for this heinous war crime, which is a gross violation of international law, the UN Charter and common human decency,’ said Ms Kateryna Argyrou, AFUO co-chair.
‘This latest attack – one of the heaviest since the start of the full-scale invasion – targeted Kyiv’s Okhmatdyt Hospital, where little babies and helpless children, the most vulnerable members of society were being treated. It is where children and their families were given hope, where lives were saved. Seeing the destruction and the aftermath of Russia’s cruel attack is absolutely heartbreaking.
‘On my recent trip to Ukraine, I saw immense suffering, disrupted lives and evidence of war crimes everywhere.
‘The daily terrorising of the population is a deliberate, brutal genocidal strategy to weaken the resolve of the Ukrainian people. It is part of a continuing pattern of Russian aggression, which has targeted Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure, with thousands of healthcare, school and energy facilities destroyed.
‘The international community must hold Russia to account for these terrible crimes. We urge world leaders at the upcoming NATO summit to focus on the huge cost Ukraine bears every day as it struggles against Russian air attacks on its people and infrastructure, and commit to more air defences and military support for Ukraine.
‘We also call on Australia to provide more humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine to support this fight against evil. We have a moral duty to protect children and bring an end to this suffering.
‘It is also time Australia sent a strong diplomatic message to Russia that its actions are inexcusable by expelling the Russian ambassador from Canberra, she said.
Photo credit: Sydney photos – Nicholas Buenk, Brisbane photos – Peter Bongiorno and Garen Krumins
