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The danger of nuclear disaster – what can we do to prevent it?

Lviv, February 27th, 2022
Dear Partners of UCU and Ukraine!

Four endless days and 96 hours of sacrificial defense and resistance. Four days that changed Ukraine and the world forever! Many countries are astonished now by Ukrainians: their faith, their resilience, their unity, and their resolute readiness to die for their land. The aggressor loses control. It is difficult for Putin to accept that Ukraine is not a controlled territory with a puppet government, but a free country of free people, which is an integral part of European civilization. This reality drives him crazy and pushes him to further commit the most shameful crimes. 

A child sits on a swing in front of a damaged residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine February 25, 2022. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

 

How UCU and Ukraine have survived through the fourth day of war? Where do we all need to remain vigilant and resilient, despite all the incredible feats of Ukrainians over the past few days?

1. Nuclear threat. After suffering a crushing defeat after four days of the attack on a peaceful Ukraine, Vladimir Putin voiced threats to use so-called deterrent forces. We are talking about Russia’s nuclear capabilities. The threat of nuclear weapons to a peaceful nuclear-free neighboring state is tragic evidence of Putin’s painful ambitions and inadequacies. Putin is ready to put the world to the worst test, which could lead to the loss of millions of lives. This challenges common sense and the civilized foundations of the world. Every destructive weapon can be answered with no less force, and this is the way to the death of mankind. It’s time we need to consciously admit to ourselves: Russia is headed by a paranoid man who is ready to drag the whole world. We urge you not to remain silent! Communicate with your governments and stakeholders, take to the streets and demand immediately bringing Putin to responsibility for the voluntaristic threat of using nuclear weapons!

2. Ecological catastrophe threat. It is also crucial to recognize the extreme consequences the whole planet may experience due to the Russian military presence in Chornobyl. As for now, Ukraine lost control of the decommissioned Chornobyl nuclear plant, whose destruction in 1986 led the world to the worst nuclear disaster in human history. The world must recognize that the unhuman Russian military crimes could lead to the most significant ecological crisis of the whole century that could change our planet forever. This war is not about Ukraine only. It is about the future of humankind as a whole.

3. Russia continues its air attack on Ukraine, shelling military and civilian infrastructure. Despite the Ukrainian Air Force’s continued success in intercepting cruise missiles aimed against Ukrainian territory, Ukraine’s airspace remains the weakest link in its defense. Missile and air attacks cruelly hit Ukrainian military and civilian objects, destroying thousands of human fates. NATO has to close the airspace to the Russian air force, which means that the aggressor would lose his advantage over the Ukrainian sky. We ask an international community to force your governments to support Ukraine in its cravings to defend the sky; thus, it strongly correlates with the danger of an ecological catastrophe. Russia hits Ukrainian oil facilities, power plants, and gas pipelines in a horrendous wave of attacks over the last four days: from Kharkiv to Vasylkiv, near Kyiv. Those actions could result in wind carrying the smoke and harmful substances not only to Ukraine but also to Europe.

4. The humanitarian crisis creates a set of threats for children and their families all around Ukraine. The UNICEF warns that intensifying hostilities in Ukraine pose an immediate threat to the lives and wellbeing of the country’s 7.5 million children. Heavy weapons fire has already damaged critical water infrastructure and education facilities in recent days. Tens of thousands of families are already displaced, dramatically escalating humanitarian needs. The UN Refugee Agency stated that around 370,000 people have left the country. According to the Lviv and Zakarpattia military administrations, about 70,000 refugees are already there. Those numbers of people are still increasing in different regions and require our joint efforts to help not only them but all those people who stay in their cities and those who protect us. Moreover, we are facing problems with providing adequate amounts of supplies and medicines. It is a first priority for us to provide food, hygiene products, warm clothes, medicines and much more for our citizens. All Ukrainians are very grateful to all the people and countries around the world that provide us with those products. Your help makes us stronger and shows that by working together we can overcome the danger that looms over the world. If you find it appropriate and feasible, please use the list of urgent items that can be sent to Ukraine as humanitarian assistance.

5. For now, our brave soldiers have defended the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, also the city of Kharkiv. However, Ukrainians are still facing difficulties with fighting back the enemy. The situation became more difficult when the occupant started using weapons against the civilians (e.g. in Nova Kakhovka and other Ukrainian districts).  That is why we kindly ask you to keep referring to your governments with requests for military aid for the Ukrainian army.

6. Russian aggression is highly dependent on financial capabilities, therefore, it is extremely important to impose severe economic sanctions on the Russian Federation. Today, European countries and G7 members cut-off several Russian banks from SWIFT as measures to stop the Russian invasion. However, these measures are not strong enough to stop Putin. Russian companies still can make operations in other banks which are not under the sanction list. Consequently, only a cut-off of the entire Russian financial system from SWIFT can stop Putin’s aggression as Russia will be isolated and economically blocked.

7. Last, but not least, personal sanctions against the Russian elite must include a wider list of individuals. The UK and the US imposed personal sanctions on President Putin, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lavrov and together with the EU on some other politicians and businessmen. However, effective personal sanctions require more people under pressure, such as relatives of all already listed individuals, military figures, and big business owners. After the first sanctions imposed on Russia war continues, which implies that only severe sanctions on Russian Federations can stop Putin and his aggression. We can also impose our personal sanctions on Russia and Putin: by not buying Russian goods, not consuming Russian media products, by terminating all contracts with Russian businesses. We also encourage all the artists and celebrities to keep pushing their politicians on continuous sanctions and refusal from any tours and entertainment content broadcasting to Russia.

The world is on the brink. We, the international academic community, are the voice of conscience and warning. 
Let us be resolute and loud in our support for Ukraine.

Yours sincerely,
Rectorate and Operating Group

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Content from 27/02 you can share: 


Patriarch Sviatoslav from Kyiv. February 27
https://youtu.be/tKjqKUKc8Us

Read in English and Italian https://ucu.edu.ua/en/news/we-believe-that-after-this-horrible-war-there-will-be-victory-for-ukraine-which-this-new-day-relentlessly-brings-closer-head-of-the-ugcc-his-beatitude-sviatoslav-shevchuk/

Appeal from UCU students: Together we can stop the war!
https://youtu.be/jalhclmhFIA

UCU students are collecting things for the Ukrainian army
https://youtu.be/D0rHz4hJOEQ

UCU Rector’s sermon on the first Sunday of the war
https://ucu.edu.ua/en/news/ne-zaglyadajte-do-svoyih-gadzhetiv-zaglyante-u-storinky-svyatogo-pysma-i-molytovnyka-slovo-rektora-uku-u-pershu-nedilyu-vijny/

We do believe in our army and support it! 
https://youtu.be/buhkPfsdXQI

Songs of war from UCU students
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnVThbVI0uN5db9_RqvC9GyDGnygcuwr

__________________________________

 

Financial Support

Please share this information in the spirit of solidarity and prayer. Thank you!

You may use these reliable Ukrainian sources of information available in English:
https://www.voanews.com/
https://english.nv.ua/
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/
https://www.ukrinform.net/
https://twitter.com/DmytroKuleba
https://www.instagram.com/svidomi_ua/
https://www.president.gov.ua/en

 You may consult the UCU information channels:
https://ucu.edu.ua/en/
https://www.facebook.com/UkrainianCatholicUniversity
https://www.instagram.com/ucu_official/
https://www.linkedin.com/school/ukrainian-catholic-university/
https://twitter.com/UCU_University https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtlA4CoiCUYd4cdD1681IWw 

 

List of urgent items that can be sent to Ukraine as humanitarian assistance:

Food supplies

  • Canned food
  • Groats
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Cereals
  • Sweets for children
  • Bread
  • Water
  • Tea/Coffee
  • Meat and Fish
  • Oil
  • Milk
  • Infant formula

Medicines and hygiene products

  • Analgesics
  • Antipyretics
  • Sedatives
  • Antiseptics
  • Cardiac drugs
  • Means to stop bleeding, bandaging for injuries
  • Shaving gels and razors
  • Shampoos
  • Diapers 
  • Soap

Other goods and products

  • Sleeping bags 
  • Blankets
  • Pillows
  • Teapots
  • Extension cords
  • Power banks
  • Plastic tableware
  • Toilet paper
  • Garbage bags
  • Scissors
  • Towels
  • Slippers

In order to protect the lives of Ukrainian soldiers we kindly ask for providing Ukrainian army with: 

Devices:

  • Night vision devices
  • Thermal imagers
  • Drones/quadcopters
  • Binoculars
  • Radio transmitters GSM
  • Power Banks
  • Turnstiles
  • Handbarrow YUTA
  • Lighters
  • Empty bags (for sand)
  • Turnstiles

Special clothes: 

  • Bulletproof vests
  • Helmets
  • Warm clothes of the big sizes
  • Thermal underwear of the big size
  • Flixes
  • Military Uniform
  • Knee pads
  • Tactical pads
  • Shoes ( EUR size 44+ )
  • Warm socks

The special request is for first aid kids. The list of medicines and medical equipment: 

  • Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, Nurofen, Protaphane, Insulin Sensors, Meloxicam, Ciprofloxacin, Novalis, Dexketoprofen, Gelatin agents, Tranexamic acid (in ampoules), Chlorhexidine, Lidocaine, Dexamethasone, hemostatics
  • Nasopharyngeal tube, Laryngeal tube, hemostatic bandage, neck collar Ambu Perfit ACE, belt SAM Pelvic Sling II, bandage Israeli Emergency Bandage 8”/12”, occlusal stickers, alcohol wipes, kit for konikotomia 
  • Additional medical backpacks, ampoules, blood transfusion kits, catheters 18G and 20G, tactical scissors, tweezers, plasters for wounds, disposable mittens, syringes 5, 10 ml, decompression needles

 

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