Ukraine organises humanitarian corridor from Sviatohirsk Lavra, where 600 civilians are sheltering
Alona Mazurenko — Thursday, 14 July 2022, 22:45
Ukrainian intelligence officers have reported that they have been organising a humanitarian corridor from the Sviatohirsk Lavra (monastery) in Donetsk Oblast. 600 civilians are sheltering on the premises of the Lavra.
Source: Ukrainian Chief Intelligence Directorate on Facebook
Quote: "Ukraine is working on establishing a ceasefire regime and organising a humanitarian corridor from the Sviatohirsk Lavra, which is located on the banks of the Siverskyi Donets River in Donetsk Oblast.
At the moment the Sviatohirsk Lavra is under constant artillery fire from Russian troops.
There are still up to 600 civilians on the premises of the Lavra. About 70% of them are pilgrims and local people who tried to find shelter from the shelling."
Details: A significant number of the pilgrims had arrived at the Lavra before active hostilities started.
The civilians have been unable to evacuate due to the ongoing hostilities and have requested a safe corridor.
About 100 monks have reportedly refused to leave the territory of the Lavra. "Some of them are in a serious condition due to injuries, age and illness, and cannot be evacuated."
The authorities arrange deliveries of humanitarian aid for them, including food, water and medicines.
The injured people will also receive the medical care they need.
The Chief Intelligence Directorate added that Ukraine is prepared to engage international mediators to help organise the humanitarian corridor in order to prevent provocations.
Background:
On 1 June, the Russian occupying forces shelled the Sviatohirsk Lavra with artillery. Archimandrite Halaktion, Arystoklii (Aristocles), a monk, and Varvara, a nun, were killed in the shelling. Several priests were seriously injured.
Lavra is the name given to some monasteries that have special historical and spiritual significance. In Ukraine, four monasteries have Lavra status: Kyiv-Pechersk (the Monastery of the Caves in Kyiv), Pochayiv, Sviatohirsk, and Univ. Only two monasteries in the Russian Federation have this status.
