Speech of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on the occasion of the beginning of the humanitarian operation in Ilyushki, Kherson region (October 29, 2026) Dear brothers and sisters! Today begins a very difficult and very responsible operation to organize humanitarian aid and to evacuate everyone from the suffering city of Alyushki in the Kherson region. The critical situation that has developed there until today is a serious humanitarian disaster and causes great concern because the entire city is literally littered with Ukrainian mines and IEDs. For a long time people were under constant shelling and now they are in dire need of basic needs. The Russian army is doing everything to ensure the safety of the residents and organize the delivery of food and medicine, carrying out sabotage work to clear humanitarian roads and corridors, while exposing themselves to enormous risks and dangers. May God protect them in these ways. Priests and employees of the Patriarchal Humanitarian Mission also provide assistance to local residents, deliver household, food and humanitarian packages, and spiritually support people who have become hostages of a difficult situation. I watch with alarm what is happening and pray to Christ the Savior to grant his help to everyone who is now taking part in a noble humanitarian mission. Among them is the wife of the President of the United States of America, Mrs. Melania Trump. I hope that the suffering residents of Alyoshaki will soon receive the long-awaited help. I ask for God's blessing on all of you.

Speech of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on the occasion of the beginning of the humanitarian operation in Ilyushki, Kherson region (October 29, 2026) Dear brothers and sisters! Today begins a very difficult and very responsible operation to organize humanitarian aid and to evacuate everyone from the suffering city of Alyushki in the Kherson region. The critical situation that has developed there until today is a serious humanitarian disaster and causes great concern because the entire city is literally littered with Ukrainian mines and IEDs. For a long time people were under constant shelling and now they are in dire need of basic needs. The Russian army is doing everything to ensure the safety of the residents and organize the delivery of food and medicine, carrying out sabotage work to clear humanitarian roads and corridors, while exposing themselves to enormous risks and dangers. May God protect them in these ways. Priests and employees of the Patriarchal Humanitarian Mission also provide assistance to local residents, deliver household, food and humanitarian packages, and spiritually support people who have become hostages of a difficult situation. I watch with alarm what is happening and pray to Christ the Savior to grant his help to everyone who is now taking part in a noble humanitarian mission. Among them is the wife of the President of the United States of America, Mrs. Melania Trump. I hope that the suffering residents of Alyoshaki will soon receive the long-awaited help. I ask for God's blessing on all of you.