Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the Primate of Austria, has called for increased support and donations to aid programs run by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and Caritas, in light of Russia's “war of destruction” against the civilian population in Ukraine.
This was reported by the UGCC Department for Information, citing the Catholic agency Kathpress.
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn has called for urgent assistance for the people affected by the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, particularly as the country faces its harshest winter since the war began. The destruction of civilian infrastructure by Russia has led to severe shortages of energy, water, and heat. Numerous cities are currently without electricity, leaving residents without access to essential services.
Schönborn described Putin's actions as a "horrific war of annihilation" against the Ukrainian civilian population. He pointed out that many in Ukraine recall the Holodomor famine of the 1930s, where artificially induced starvation resulted in millions of deaths. "Now our help is needed more than ever," he emphasized.
According to Father Yuriy Kolasa, Vicar General of the Catholic Eastern Churches in Austria, around 710,000 people in Kyiv have been without electricity for over a day. Approximately 1,100 residential buildings, housing about 154,000 individuals, lack both water and heating. The government estimates that even after the situation stabilizes, around 60% of homes in Kyiv and nearby areas will still be without heating, complicating repairs amid the cold weather.
"The situation is particularly dire in multi-story buildings, where there is no electricity, heating, or working elevators, and water supply and sewage systems are down. Many pipes have been damaged or frozen by frost and can only be thawed in the summer. Ice melts very slowly in unheated concrete rooms, leading to temperatures in many apartments not exceeding six to seven degrees Celsius," Fr. Yuriy explained. This crisis particularly affects vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, the elderly living alone, and families with small children.
The destruction of infrastructure and ongoing power outages have severe long-term implications. Hundreds of thousands of children cannot attend school — either online or in person — due to a lack of electricity. Banks, shops, factories, and other critical institutions are unable to operate normally.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, has urged all Ukrainian parishes worldwide to actively participate in providing assistance, highlighting the critical situation in Ukraine. All Ukrainian communities in Austria, under the leadership of Cardinal Schönborn, are involved in the global aid campaign.
Cardinal Schönborn and Vicar General Fr. Yuriy Kolasa hope that many other parishes and dioceses in Austria will contribute to the relief efforts and not leave the people of Ukraine without support.
"The UGCC is doing everything possible to help in this situation that threatens millions of lives," Fr. Yuriy stated. "In Kyiv and the surrounding area, the UGCC and Caritas are distributing hot meals at eight locations, providing 1,600 meals daily. The clergy also deliver meals directly to those who cannot go out but are in urgent need of assistance."
The Church, in collaboration with Caritas, is organizing the distribution of food packages for emergency assistance and has already provided approximately 5,000 packages. Five tents have been set up in Kyiv and its surroundings to serve as warming centers and food distribution points. A temporary shelter in the Patriarchal Cathedral in Kyiv operates around the clock, welcoming those seeking warmth or a place to charge essential devices, with some guests staying overnight.
"Many elderly and disabled individuals are forced to remain in their apartments for extended periods without heating or electricity. As a result, volunteers from local church communities are increasingly taking it upon themselves to visit these individuals at home, delivering food, medicine, and warm clothing," said the Vicar General of the Catholic Eastern Churches in Austria.