On Sunday morning, the Russians hit Sumy in the northeast of Ukraine with 2 ballistic missiles filled with cluster ammunition. They attacked the city center itself, killing 34 and hurting 117 people. Among the dead are 2 and among the injured 15 children.
— I am very amazed that on a Christian vacation that we all (Catholics and Orthodox) celebrate this year, they decided to do this and did it. This is incomprehensible to me in no way in any way," said Fr.
Russia's attack on Sumy. "A immense shock wave"
When asked about the situation in the city and the moods of its inhabitants after the attack, he replied that they remained steadfast. “This is simply a steadfast city, we do not give up. This is just a greater motivation for us to fight evil, those who live evil and do evil to others," emphasized the parish priest.
The Roman Catholic temple in Sumach is about 2 km from the site of the attack and did not endure as a result. However, Fr. Szkopetec was on Sunday close the epicentre of explosions after rocket strikes.
— There's quite a few damage. A immense shock wave caused quite a few damage, and in many windows glass broke. You can't go to the very place where it happened; emergency services, police, and troops work there. erstwhile I was there, there were many ambulances, many victims – he reported.
The priest explained that the explosions occurred before the Holy Mass, which was celebrated at 11 a.m. local time (h. 10 in Poland). "Today we prayed for Polish victims of the Katyn crime and for those who died in Smolensk," he stressed.
“We live in constant danger”
The parish priest recalled that due to the proximity of the border with Russia and Ukrainian military operations in the Russian Kursk Oblast, Sums are shelled much more frequently than another Ukrainian cities.
— We live in a constant state of danger, but we have chosen this life, we want to be here for these people and we are with them. We don't want to run, due to the fact that it's the enemy who should be moving from us. We have many friends, many people support us, aid us. We want to be 1 as a local community, as a nation and as citizens of Ukraine," stressed Fr Szkopzek.
