February 17, 2022. OTTAWA, ON. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) strongly condemns the cowardly Russian attacks against civilians in eastern Ukraine. On February 17, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence reported that Russian occupation forces shelled residential areas of several towns near the frontline; in Stanytsia Luhanska, Russian artillery shells hit a children’s daycare, injuring three employees. In Vrubivka, a lyceum was hit by Russian artillery.
“Russia is a terrorist state that purposefully and callously targets civilians. The UCC calls on Canada and our allies to immediately and significantly strengthen sanctions against Russia and the Russian regime for this deliberate provocation,” stated Alexandra Chyczij, National President of the UCC. “Russia has shown time and again that it does not seek peace; Russia seeks war, violence and misery. Today’s heinous attacks and many others require a firm response from the international community.”
A report from Ukraine’s Channel 5 is available here:
The UCC calls on Canada and the international community to:
- Immediately condemn this deliberate provocation
- Substantially increase the provision of defensive weapons to Ukraine and strengthen Ukraine’s air and naval defenses;
- Significantly increase sanctions against Russia’s economy and the Russian regime;
- Designate the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk “Peoples’ Republic” terrorist organizations and designate the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terror.
A report from Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence on today’s attacks by Russia is available here