With friends and family on both sides of the Russia and Ukraine conflict, the leader of Canada91Ƶs Doukhobors says it is a sad day for his community and people everywhere.
After weeks of increasing tensions, Russia ignored global criticism and sanctions and on Feb. 24 using airstrikes, tanks, ground troops and sea-based missiles.
Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ Doukhobors executive director J.J. Verigin Jr. told Black Press he has heard from people whose loved ones have been witnessing 91Ƶthe tragedy of warfare 91Ƶ whether it is explosions or artillery or airstrikes or planes flying overhead.91Ƶ
91ƵWe have always stood for and worked for peace, because once conflict starts it cuts like a hot knife through families, through friendships and everyone suffers except for the people who profit from everyone91Ƶs misery,91Ƶ said Verigin.
91ƵWe are united in our prayers that the hostilities there cease as quickly as possible.91Ƶ
The Doukhobors are known for their pacifism and Verigin said the conflict in their homeland will cause numerous people to suffer.
91ƵPeople want peace, yet we can91Ƶt seem to put an end to war,91Ƶ he said.
91ƵEveryone seems to be gearing up for the fight, instead of trying to make peace, ratcheting up the tension 91Ƶ by doing that, they just increase the terror.91Ƶ
Verigin wishes there was more that Canada could do to bring about peace abroad and at home.
91ƵYou don91Ƶt have to go to Ukraine to witness divisiveness in a population 91Ƶ look what we91Ƶve witnessed in Canada in the last several weeks.91Ƶ
91ƵBecause of COVID we have had to step into a virtual world and it seems like we have lost our humanity by crossing that threshold. I hope we can recover it, because if we don91Ƶt then we deserve exactly what we are going to get.91Ƶ
As the invasion continues, . Some NATO member countries, including Canada, have promised supplies or troops to Ukraine. But NATO itself has not, since Ukraine is not a member.
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