The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the UK Jewish community have been deeply affected by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the siege of Kyiv currently being undertaken by Russian forces. This senseless aggression flies in the face of justice and decency. We continue to both be inspired by the resolve of the Ukrainian people, and to pray for peace.
We praise our government’s actions in helping the Ukrainian people to defend themselves, and the role Britain has played alongside other nations in ensuring that strong economic measures are brought to bear on the Russian regime. We hope that the authorities will do everything possible to aid those seeking refuge while this crisis continues.
We join the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem in condemning the ‘trivialisation and distortion of the historical facts of the Holocaust’ which have been used by Vladimir Putin and parroted across Russian propaganda.
Above all, our thoughts are with all those caught up in this conflict; the Ukrainian people, including many Ukrainian Jews. World Jewish Relief, the British Jewish community’s leading international humanitarian agency, has launched a Ukrainian Crisis Appeal, as has World ORT, which operates schools in Ukraine. We would urge all those who are able to donate towards these causes.
Tikva UK is holding an emergency appeal for the children of Ukraine.