The Coordination Centre of Ukrainian Associations in Italy and the ArtUAge association have backed the initiative of the ECU (the European Congress of Ukrainians) and submitted a petition in support of supplying air defence systems to Ukraine.
To the Senate of the Italian Republic
We, the representatives of the Coordination Centre of Ukrainian Associations in Italy, are writing to ask you to give Ukraine further support in providing air defence systems.
Ukraine is currently suffering heavy losses as a result of Russian aggression, which is causing suffering to thousands of Ukrainians, including civilians and above all the most vulnerable: children. Cities are being destroyed, civilians and animals are killed or maimed, and the country’s ecosystem is being utterly devastated.
Over the past month the Russian Federation has substantially stepped up its air strikes on Ukraine’s cities and critical infrastructure. In particular, Russia is attacking targets on a large scale with ballistic missiles, which only two air defence systems in the world can shoot down: the American Patriot and the Franco-Italian SAMP/T.
The overwhelming majority of civilian casualties (91%) have been caused by explosive weapons with wide-area effects.
The shortage of missiles for Ukraine’s air defence systems has severely limited the country’s ability to defend itself against attacks, leaving people’s lives dependent on where a missile happens to fall. The whole territory of Ukraine is under threat.
We call on the representatives of all EU member states to draw their governments’ attention to strengthening Ukraine’s air defence, which is essential for achieving peace and stability both in Ukraine and in every country to which Ukrainian refugees are fleeing.
Our petition was read out at the sitting of the Italian Senate on 8 May.
It has been forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence for consideration.
In unity lies our strength!
Everything will be Ukraine!
