Pope Leo on Sunday renewed his call for an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine, urging both sides to stop attacks on civilians as casualties continue to rise.
“Tragic incidents are multiplying, causing an ever-growing number of civilian victims, including children,” the pontiff said before leading the Angelus prayer.
“I renew my heartfelt appeal for international humanitarian law to be respected and for attacks against civilian targets to cease on both sides,” he added.
More than 16,000 civilians have been killed in nearly 4 1/2 years of fighting, according to the United Nations, with most of the victims in Ukraine.
The UN human rights office said civilian deaths and injuries in Ukraine increased by more than a third during the first half of the year, driven largely by a rise in drone attacks.
Ukraine has also launched waves of drone attacks against targets in Russia. A UN official said civilians in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine and inside Russia have also been killed.
The latest attacks underscored the pope’s appeal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the Black Sea port of Odesa was damaged by an overnight Russian attack, with eight people wounded.
In Russia, five people were killed in an overnight Ukrainian drone attack on the city of Belgorod, according to the regional crisis center.
Both Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilians.
The pope’s appeal comes as the continuing attacks add to the civilian toll of the conflict and raise renewed concerns over compliance with international humanitarian law.
