Patrick Christys: An attack on the people of Ukraine is an attack on all of us

An attack on the people of Ukraine is an attack on all of us. It’s an attack on the values that underpin sovereignty, it’s an attack on innocent civilians, it’s an attack on humanity, it’s an attack on decency.

As I speak right now, gunfire can be heard in Kyiv and air raid sirens are going off. It would appear that, at any moment, the Ukrainian capital could be immersed into a brutal door-to-door battle.

Just think about the men, women and children right now who, a few days ago, may have been about to go to work at an accountancy firm or as a primary school teacher, who are today making makeshift explosives and stocking up on ammunition.

There are harrowing images coming out of people huddling together in an underground subway in scenes eerily reminiscent of The Blitz.

There are babies being born in bunkers. Their first view of the world will be of their terrified parents, seeking shelter from an unhinged tyrant. The first sounds they hear may well be air raid sirens, the thudding of missiles landing above and the screaming of terrified innocents.

Haunting video footage appears to show men kissing their daughters goodbye, putting them on an evacuation bus and waving them off for what, one imagines, could well be for the final time.

There are videos and audio recordings on brave Ukranian troops telling a Russian war ship to, well, I can’t repeat what they said at this time in the morning, but they were then eviscerated by missile fire.

The Ukranian government has removed all restrictions for the military and is encouraging civilians to make Molotov cocktails. This is desperation, and rightly so. Freedom and national independence is hard-earned and must be hard fought for. We are witnessing the desecration of a nation.

And the Ukrainian public seem ready for the fight. A brave elderly woman was filmed confronting a Russian soldier, telling him to put sunflower seeds in his pocket so that beautiful flowers will grow in her country when the Russian forces are killed.

Former heavyweight world champions Vitali and Vladimir Klitschko have taken up arms and are ready to die for their country.

But it’s not just the people of Ukraine who want to resist. There were anti-war protests in 40 different Russian cities and calls from members of our government for military leaders in Russia and officials to attempt to topple Putin.

If you are religious, I would urge you to pray for the people of Ukraine because we stand on the brink of massive civilian casualties and a huge humanitarian crisis. We may well be confronted in the coming days with a moral dilemma – how bad would things have to get before we, and indeed our allies, take more drastic action.