His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia expressed his condolences over the deaths and injuries of civilians as a result of a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle strike on a bus en route from Lysychansk to Stakhanov.
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church sent messages to the head of the Lugansk People's Republic Leonid Pasechnik and Metropolitan Nikodim of Severodonetsk and Starobilsk.
"Innocent civilians have once again become victims of this inhuman strike. I express my sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to all those injured," His Holiness the Patriarch said in an address to the head of the LPR.
The primate noted that the clergy of the Severodonetsk diocese is ready to provide the necessary spiritual assistance to all those who need support.
In a message to Metropolitan Nicodemus, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill asked to convey his condolences to the people affected by the tragedy and expressed the hope that the clergy of the diocese would provide pastoral care to those who had lost their loved ones and would find words of comfort and support for the victims.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill offered prayers for the repose of the dead, the strengthening of their relatives and the speedy healing of the wounded.