Weekly Update #37
November 14

CURRENT SITUATION

Changing conflict dynamics

Following explosions in early October on the Kerch Strait Bridge, which connects the Crimean Peninsula with Russian Federation territory, Russia has stepped up missile and drone attacks across Ukraine. Though power plants and other critical infrastructure have been targeted in some of the strikes, many of them hit unrelated facilities in urban centers—including schools and healthcare centers—leading to a large number of civilian casualties. 

Given the damage to critical infrastructure, most of the country is suffering from power shortages and systematic blackouts, which not only impede the everyday life of citizens but—with winter weather already affecting the country—also pose a threat to health. With water supply critical to running the centralized heating system in Ukraine, power failures are hampering local and displaced people’s winter preparedness against the background of harsh weather conditions. 

As of 20 October, 1 million displaced Ukrainians who were staying in over 5,600 collective centres need support for the winter months. The approaching winter remains a key focus of the humanitarian response with humanitarian organizations distributing winter supplies, helping repair collective centres, and providing cash to cover essential costs at institutional and household levels in hard-to-reach areas. 

The fast-changing situation and wide-ranging attacks are fueling further displacement and intensifying needs of internally displaced populations. Western Ukraine’s main border crossing points have seen a 5 per cent increase in the number of people on the move between the first and second weeks of October.

Ukrainian forces have launched successful counter-offensive operations to retake territory in Kherson and Kharkiv oblasts. On November 11, the government regained Kherson.  In some regained areas, Ukrainians have discovered mass burial sites and evidence of war crimes, with the Ukrainian Ministry of Reintegration reporting that the number of victims in Izium may exceed those of Bucha.

Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian office, OCHA, expressed concerned over an increasing number of incidents involving mines and explosive ordnances – particularly in the recently regained Kharkiv region in the northeast. At least five incidents of mines detonating or explosions causing deaths or injuries occurred during the first two days of November, compared to four throughout the who second half of October. Moreover, accidents involving farmers trying to get back to their land following Russian withdrawal, are becoming progressively more common

Together, the UN and partners have reached more than 3 million people with critical information about the risk of mines, in addition to demining and services to support survivors.

Authorities report that more than 150,000 explosive devices have already been removed and destroyed since March 2022, but there are millions more. It is estimated that clearing landmines in Ukraine could take decades

Sources: OCHA Ukraine Crisis - Situation Report #23 (November 9, 2022)

Ukraine: UN and partners provide life-saving aid to some 13.5 million

https://www.unicef.org/topics/ukraine 

CIVILIAN CASULTIES

(As of November 7, 2022)

Total civilian casualties from 24 February to 6 November 2022

16,462 civilian casualties in Ukraine: 

• 6,490 killed  -- 2,533 men, 1,731 women, 168 girls, and 201 boys, as well as 34 children and 1,823 adults whose sex is yet unknown

• 9,972 injured -- 2,144 men, 1,541 women, 208 girls, and 295 boys, as well as 242 children and 5,542 adults whose sex is yet unknown

More than half of these casualties were in territory controlled by Russian armed forces.

Total civilian casualties from 1-31 October 2022

1,067 civilian casualties in Ukraine:

• 284 killed -- 112 men, 56 women, 2 girls, 4 boys, as well as 110 adults whose sex is yet unknown; and

• 783 injured -- 215 men, 136 women, 8 girls, 20 boys, as well as 18 children and 386 adults whose sex is yet unknown.

Source: OHCHR Civilian Casualties Report, November 7, 2022

Switzerland and Liechtenstein assure continuation of protection for Ukrainian refugees

The  Federal Council of Switzerland and Liechtenstein formally decided to maintain the temporary protection status of Ukrainian refugees.  This extension enables refugees to be hosted in these two countries, who have already been welcomed in numbers beyond the regular magnitudes.  

In a position paper, UNHCR urged the two governments to introduce improvements into their policy.  A particular concern referred to clarifying specific groups that would be receiving temporary status, since third country nationals, binational couples, and dual nationals are unable to receive such status.  

Upgrading the minimum standards for different types of accommodation was a further recommendation through dialogues with host households and their eventual evaluations.  The UN agency likewise favored to have flexibility in the revocation of the protection status by extending the period of return stay in Ukraine, which at present is 15 days, a period deemed limited and not supportive of the unique context of Ukrainian refugees. 

Source: Maintien du statut de protection temporaire S: le HCR salue la décision du Conseil fédéral

Black Sea Grain Initiative Resumed 

On November 2, the UN Secretary General welcomed the news of the resumption of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.  The UN-brokered, which is implemented through a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) in Istanbul involving Russia, Ukraine, and Türkiye, was signed in July, to allow grain, oil and other foodstuffs to leave the war-torn country for markets overseas – many of which are in desperate need of food from Europe’s “breadbasket” to stave off the threat of famine.

On October 29, Russia announced it was suspending its cooperation and would no longer guarantee the safe passage along the agreed humanitarian corridor of ships through the Black Sea, claiming that Ukraine had launched an attack on its military vessels in Crimea.  However, through diplomatic efforts of Turkey and the UN Coordinator, Russia will resume its participation in the Black Sea grain deal, as announced by its defense ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Written guarantees were obtained from Ukraine on not using the humanitarian corridor and Ukrainian ports designated for the export of agricultural products for military operations against the Russian Federation were obtained and submitted to the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) on 1 November 2022.

Through this initiative, nearly 25 per cent of all exports (over 1.8 milion metric tons) have since gone  to low and lower-middle income countries with vulnerable populations. Some 25 per cent of grain has gone to upper-middle income countries, and the rest went to high-income countries. Corn is by far the most exported grain, comprising nearly 43 per cent of overall cargo, followed by wheat, and sunflower oil.

Source: Three months into the Black Sea Grain Initiative: What’s been achieved — and why it’s important

UN chief warmly welcomes Russia decision to end suspension from Ukraine grain deal

HOLY FATHER ON UKRAINE

General Audience - November 9, 2022

Almost sixty years ago, the Second Vatican Council, speaking about building an edifice of peace, stated that “it certainly demands that [men and women] extend their thoughts and their spirit beyond the confines of their own nation, that they put aside national selfishness and ambition to dominate other nations, and that they nourish a profound reverence for the whole of humanity, which is already making its way so laboriously toward greater unity” (Gaudium et spes, 82). This is what the Council says. I sensed this need in Bahrain and I hoped that religious and civil leaders throughout the world might be able to look beyond their own borders, their own communities, to care for the whole. This is the only way to confront certain universal issues, for example, that God is being forgotten, the tragedy of hunger, the care of creation, peace. These things can be thought of all together. In this sense, the Forum for dialogue entitled: “East and West for Human Coexistence” – this was the title, “East and West for Human Coexistence” – encouraged the choice of the path of encounter and the rejection of confrontation. How much we need this! There is such a need to encounter each other. I have in mind the insanity of war – insane – of which battered Ukraine is a victim, and of many other conflicts, that will never be resolved through the infantile logic of artillery, but only with the gentle power of dialogue. But in addition to Ukraine, which is being tormented, this land. But let’s think of the wars that last for years, and let’s think of Syria – more than 10 years! -- let’s think, for example, of Syria, let’s think of the children in Yemen, let’s think of Myanmar: all over the place! Right now, Ukraine is closer. And what does war do? It destroys, it destroys humanity, destroys everything. Conflicts are not to be resolved through war.

Quasi sessant’anni fa il Concilio Vaticano II, parlando della costruzione dell’edificio della pace, affermava che «tale opera esige che [gli uomini] dilatino la loro mente e il loro cuore al di là dei confini della propria nazione, deponendo ogni egoismo nazionale ed ogni ambizione di supremazia su altre nazioni, e nutrendo invece un profondo rispetto verso tutta l’umanità, avviata ormai faticosamente verso una maggiore unità» (Gaudium et spes, 82). In Bahrein ho avvertito questa esigenza e ho auspicato che, in tutto il mondo, i responsabili religiosi e civili sappiano guardare al di fuori dei propri confini, delle proprie comunità, per prendersi cura dell’insieme. Solo così si possono affrontare certi temi universali, per esempio la dimenticanza di Dio, la tragedia della fame, la custodia del creato, la pace. Insieme, si pensa questo. In questo senso il Forum di dialogo, dal titolo “Est e Ovest per la coesistenza umana”, ha esortato a scegliere la via dell’incontro e a rifiutare quella dello scontro. Quanto bisogno ne abbiamo! Quanto bisogno abbiamo di incontrarci! Penso alla folle guerra – folle! – di cui è vittima la martoriata Ucraina, e a tanti altri conflitti, che non si risolveranno mai attraverso l’infantile logica delle armi, ma solo con la forza mite del dialogo. Ma oltre l’Ucraina, che è martoriata, pensiamo alle guerre che durano da anni, e pensiamo alla Siria – più di 10 anni! – pensiamo ad esempio alla Siria, pensiamo ai bambini dello Yemen, pensiamo al Myanmar: dappertutto! Adesso, più vicina è l’Ucraina, a cosa fanno le guerre? Distruggono, distruggono l’umanità, distruggono tutto. I conflitti non vanno risolti attraverso la guerra.

Angelus - November 13, 2022

Let us always remain close to our brothers and sisters in martyred Ukraine. Close in prayer and with concrete solidarity. Peace is possible! Let us not resign ourselves to war.

Rimaniamo sempre vicini ai nostri fratelli e sorelle della martoriata Ucraina. Vicini con la preghiera e con la solidarietà concreta. La pace è possibile! Non rassegniamoci alla guerra.

Pope prays for Ukraine as Kherson residents welcome Ukrainian troops

Pope: 'War will never be resolved through the childish logic of weapons'

Pope Francis meets with head of Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church

Pontifical diplomacy, Shevchuk by Cardinal Parolin

In the morning, the meeting of the Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church with the Vatican Secretary of State. The possibility of a mediation in Ukraine. Parolin's words at COP 27

Original article in ITALIAN / Google Translate into ENGLISH

Nuncio to Ukraine: 'We are used to war, but we must pray for peace'

As Russia steps up strikes on Ukrainian cities, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, discusses the situation on the ground, and the importance of the Church's response to the crisis.

NEWS

His Beatitude Sviatoslav: let us thank God for good shepherds in our Church (Google Translate)

Caritas helps Ukrainians and encourages them to support the "Family to family" campaign (Google Translate)

Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki on Ukraine, Pope Francis and love for enemies (Google Translate)

Head of the UGCC on the 261st day of the war: "It is easy to get into a war, but it is not easy to return to a peaceful life from it" (Google Translate)

The war in Ukraine became a special topic of discussion at the Australian Conference of Catholic Bishops (Google Translate)

Russian Amb. to the Vatican: We appreciate Pope's commitment to prisoner exchange / Italian Original

Patriarch Bartholomew on Russia's attack: "nothing can justify this war" (Google Translate)

Bartholomew I: together with Pope Francis until the common date of the celebration of Easter (Google Translate)

The Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople shared his thoughts on joint efforts with Pope Francis in the context of the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Council to arrive at a common date for the celebration of Easter. Answering a question about the war in Ukraine, he emphasized that peace without justice is impossible.