On 28 June 2022, Dr. Widad Akreyi, co-founder of Defend International, expressed her great sadness in the wake of another deadly attack that hit a civilian target in Ukraine.

The statement read:

“Today, we express sorrow and grief for the families of victims whose lives were senselessly taken during a missile strike on a crowded shopping mall in the city of Kremenchuk in central Ukraine. We watched the scene with horror.

“We also watched dozens of rescue workers who toiled and took immediate action searching for survivors. They struggled for hours in their attempt to pull injured survivors out of the ruins, as many as possible. We’d like to thank them for their bravery and work. They did their best to save lives.

“It is well-known that wars exact the heaviest toll on civilians, forcefully transforming them into victims. Today, we remember everyone who is trying to cope with the physical and emotional pain left by armed conflicts.

“Our thoughts are with all those who knew or lost loved ones. We continue to hope for a peaceful solution to the crisis in Ukraine and everywhere else where there is suffering.”