VIDEOS of dead Ukrainian civilians, many apparently executed by Russian troops, were further evidence that “the struggle of Ukraine is a spiritual struggle against evil, against the devil and his servants,” Ukrainian Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halych said.
“A mountain of corpses, rivers of blood, a sea of tears” are the ongoing reality of Ukraine, the archbishop said in his daily video message from Kyiv on April 4.
The archbishop spoke after the widespread distribution of videos from Bucha and other towns from which Russian troops had retreated.
The videos show dead bodies in the streets and in the yards of homes.
Many appear to have been shot in the head and the hands of many of the corpses are bound.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, announced the European Union “has set up a joint investigation team with Ukraine to collect evidence and investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity” on April 4.
Archbishop Shevchuk told his people that while it was right to support the military and to keep fighting the Russian invasion, the evil at play could only be vanquished with goodness, holiness and generosity.
“We know that our vices and sins must be overcome by opposing virtues,” he said, in the video subtitled in English by his staff.
“Pride is fought through humility, avarice is healed by sacrifice, laziness is treated by diligence.
“Today we see horrible footage. Terrible images of everything that the occupier left on Ukrainian soil. We see mass graves of people who were shot in the back of the head. We see destroyed cities and villages. We see mutilated human destinies.
“That is why we must get to work and fight.
“If the enemy kills us (and) sows death, let us serve life, honour human life from conception to natural death.
“We see that today the enemy is robbing Ukrainians, robbing, looting.”
In response, Ukrainians should be “generous and support those who need works of Christian charity”.
Where the Russians are “destroying everything,” he said, Ukrainians should try to “build, get to work,” including by starting the spring planting if possible.
“Let us do good, and then evil will be defeated,” he said.
United States President Joe Biden has called for Russian President Vladimir Putin to face trial over the killings of civilians in Bucha.
“This guy is brutal,” Mr Biden said.
“Well the truth of the matter, you saw what happened in Bucha… but we have to gather all the detail so this can have a war crimes trial,” Mr Biden said.
Russia invaded Ukraine one and a half months ago, and has since been pushed out of its position surrounding Kyiv but continues its campaign against other Ukrainian cities.
Reuters estimates suggest more than 24,000 people have been killed in the current conflict and more than 10 million people displaced.
