Wisconsin Catholics offered prayers for Ukraine Thursday after Russia attacked. | Archdiocese of Detroit/Facebook

Heeding the call to action from Pope Francis, the Diocese of La Crosse asked parishioners to pray for peace between Russia and the Ukraine after military action by Russia escalated Thursday.

“We join #PopeFrancis in calling on all people of goodwill to pray for the people of #Ukraine and for an end to war,” the diocese wrote on its Facebook page. 

The pope tweeted his plea for peace a day earlier. "I would like to appeal to those with political responsibilities to make a serious examination of conscience before God, who is the God of peace and not of war, the Father of all, not just of some, who wants us to be brothers and not enemies. #Ukraine #Peace,” the Pope wrote. 

He followed that up with a public message during his weekly general audience when Pope Francis called on Catholics to set aside Ash Wednesday (March 2) as a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Ukraine.

"I appeal to all sides to abstain from any action that could provoke more suffering to the populations, destabilizing coexistence among nations and discrediting international law,” he said, according to a Reuters report about his message. 

Early Thursday, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky called for broad support for his country.

"We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities,” he tweeted. 

He called Russia's actions "treacherous" and said the regime was acting like Nazi Germany did. 

Early into the military action, the Russian forces were reported as trying to take control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

"Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated,” Zelensky tweeted. “Reported this to @SwedishPM. This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe.”