As ethicists, scholars and religious leaders, we condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s brutal, wholly unprovoked and unjustified full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

There can be no credible ethical justification in defence of this attack. Attempts by Russian spokespeople to appropriate ethical language for rhetorical effect and to fabricate a pretext for invasion were transparently disingenuous. We call on religious, moral and political leaders, if they have not yet done so, to join us in unreserved denunciation of this unconscionable act of aggression.(1)  

This long-planned military assault against a democratic, independent, European sovereign state is a flagrant violation of international law, and undermines the founding principles of the UN Charter. It challenges the very basis of peace and security across Europe, which includes every nation’s right to choose their own economic and security arrangements, free from subjugation, coercion or unwarranted interference in their affairs.

We deplore and lament the tragic loss of life, enormous suffering and destruction of infrastructure and cultural heritage inflicted on the innocent people of Ukraine. We especially decry the indiscriminate and illegal attacks on civilian areas, hospitals and schools, the use of internationally banned cluster munitions, and other war crimes documented by human rights organisations. (2)

We stand in solidarity with the democratically elected president, parliament and government of Ukraine, and with the Ukrainian people courageously defending their homeland, their independence and the values of the free world. We call on people of faith and good will everywhere to mobilise spiritual and practical resources to support humanitarian relief efforts (3) and to advocate on behalf of refugees.

We applaud the courage and compassion of the many Russian citizens protesting against this attack on their Ukrainian neighbours, relatives and friends, knowing they themselves face risks of arrest and oppression. It is our profound hope that members of the Russian military will lay down their weapons in conscientious protest against this illegal and immoral invasion, and refuse to comply with orders to participate in war crimes.

We call on people of faith and goodwill everywhere to support the growing international protests and peace vigils demanding an end to the violence and an immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine. Let us work together towards establishing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Notes:
 (1) List of statements condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from scholars and religious, moral and political leaders around the world.
Statement on Ukraine from the Methodist Presidency.
Attack on Ukraine ‘an act of great evil’—statement from Archbishops of Canterbury and York.
‘A repeat of Cain’s sin’: Orthodox leaders condemn Russian attack on Ukraine.
Ukraine: CEC together with global Christian organisations condemns assault.
European Evangelical Alliance: ‘Unjustified and unprovoked war.’
Catholics in Europe react to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Statement on the War in Ukraine by Scholars of Genocide, Nazism and World War II.
An open letter from Russian scientists and science journalists against the war with Ukraine.
Statement by the North Atlantic Council on Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
87 Countries condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the UN.
G7 Leaders’ Statement on the invasion of Ukraine by armed forces of the Russian Federation.
 (2) Amnesty International: Ukraine: Russian military have carried out indiscriminate attacks.
Amnesty International: Ukraine: Cluster munitions kill a child and two other civilians taking shelter at a preschool.
 (3) UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency and ICRC, the International Committee of the Red Cross have capable local staff, good logistics and access to difficult territory beyond the reach of many other organisations.