Russia has been accused of “deliberately targeting” a United Nations humanitarian aid convoy in Ukraine. Kyiv’s ministry of foreign affairs said four trucks marked with UN emblems were targeted by Russian drones and artillery in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region.
Two of the trucks were struck, and two people in a nearby civilian car — a 73-year-old woman and a 67-year-old man — sustained injuries. Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha described the incident on Tuesday morning as a “brutal violation of international law”. He accused Moscow of having “utter disregard for civilian lives and its international obligations”.
“We urge UN Member States to clearly condemn yet another attack on humanitarian personnel and impose additional pressure on the aggressor,” he said.
The trucks were part of an inter-agency UN convoy delivering vital aid, including medicine, to residents in war-torn Belozersk, according to the UN which confirmed the attack.
Andrea de Domenico, head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said it appeared the two trucks struck had been hit by kamikaze drones.
Alexander Prokudin, head of the regional military administration, said: “Russia has once again shown its true and disgusting face by attacking a humanitarian mission in Kherson region.
“The occupiers deliberately targeted UN OCHA trucks with drones and artillery.”
He accused Vladimir Putin’s forces of attacking several tons of humanitarian aid.
“Terrorists — there’s nothing more to say,” he said in a post on social media.
“One vehicle burned down, another was seriously damaged.
“Two [vehicles] managed to escape the attack.”
Photos from the scene showed thick plumes of black smoke billowing from one of the trucks.
The UN said its staff were unhurt in the incident and the trucks hit were clearly marked as belonging to the World Food Programme.
“Such attacks are utterly unacceptable,” the UN said in a statement.
“Aid workers are protected by international humanitarian law and should never be attacked.
“Civilians remaining in front-line areas are heavily reliant on humanitarian assistance, and aid workers should be able to deliver life-saving assistance safely.
“Deliberately targeting humanitarians and humanitarian assets is a gross violation of international humanitarian law and might amount to a war crime.”