Putin must stop Russian invasion of Ukraine immediately
On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the start of a special military operation and began air strikes on Ukraine's territory. Since then, the Russian military's indiscriminate attacks have resulted in approximately 4,000 casualties, including soldiers and civilians, and the number of casualties continues to increase. We are against war. We oppose all destruction and violence caused by war. No reasons put forward by the Russian government can justify the invasion. Stop the war. We solemnly call for it along with people from all over the world. Putin must withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine's territory immediately. Stop all aggression against Ukraine.
Through the two world wars and the Cold War, people learned how conflicts and antagonisms harm humanity. Russia's invasion of Ukraine goes against the lesson humanity has learned and realized: "violence can never be justified." The Russian government has proclaimed that there would be no civilian casualties as it started to invade Ukraine. On March 2, six days after the invasion, however, the Russian army used cluster bombs against residential areas. This violates not only the UN Charter but also the Convention on Cluster Munitions(CCM). War has no eyes. War cannot distinguish soldiers from civilians. War leaves only victims and perpetrators.
Although 70 years have passed since the Korean War, Korean people are still living in war. The abuses of war leave scars across generations. In particular, citizens living in southern Gyeonggi Province are still suffering from the roar of fighter jets from military airports. We do not want this to happen to our fellow citizens of Ukraine.
Amid the horrors of war, we saw the humanity of Ukrainian citizens. Soulful images of Ukrainian medical staff treating Russian soldiers and citizens providing food to isolated Russian soldiers were introduced in the media. Russian citizens are also raising their voices against the war. Politics chose violence, but people chose solidarity. We are in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. We demand once more that Russian president Putin should withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine's territory immediately. Stop all aggression against Ukraine.
Gyeonggi Association of Civil Society Organizations
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Gyeonggi Headquarter