'Power and food shortages': Nuncio on consequences of Russian bombings

“The situation is somewhat reminiscent of the Holodomor of the 1930s,” commented the nuncio on the current situation in Ukraine, according to Vatican Radio.

Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas emphasized, “Due to the war, we are facing a severe energy crisis resulting from the bombing of cities and towns. With the harsh January cold, when temperatures drop to twenty degrees below zero at night, the situation is particularly difficult in Kyiv, according to local authorities. However, when I speak with bishops, priests, and the faithful, I hear that there is also a shortage of electricity in the western regions, such as Lviv. Many people report having electricity for only three hours a day. The situation is similar in Kyiv and Kharkiv, where families sometimes experience power or heating outages for two consecutive days. This lack of energy means that bakers often cannot bake bread, impacting the availability of various food products. Therefore, this energy crisis not only harms the civilian population by exposing them to extreme cold but also leads to food shortages. I would say that this situation certainly bears some resemblance to the Holodomor that Ukraine experienced in the 1930s.

At the nunciature, we are better off, as we have our own generator, which provides us with more light, water, and heating than many others. However, as the mayor of Kyiv mentioned a few days ago, if the current situation continues, he does not rule out the possibility of having to evacuate the entire capital. This remains a potential scenario. Everything depends on the bombings and their consequences, which fluctuate from day to day.”

According to the nuncio, the entire Ukrainian population is deeply traumatized. Visvaldas Kulbokas hopes that Catholics around the world will pray for the mental health of all those suffering from the trauma of war.