The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has confirmed that three of its workers were killed and two others injured in a strike in eastern Ukraine. The incident occurred while the team was preparing to distribute aid in the frontline region of Donetsk.
The ICRC did not identify who was behind the attack, but described it as “unconscionable” that “shelling would hit an aid distribution site”. The agency’s vehicles are clearly marked and operate regularly in the region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Moscow for the shelling, calling it “another Russian war crime”. He shared a photo of a white truck in flames branded with the Red Cross logo on its side.
The ICRC’s president, Mirjana Spoljaric, condemned the attack in the strongest terms, saying: “Our hearts are broken today as we mourn the loss of our colleagues and care for the injured.”
The agency reiterated its neutrality, impartiality, and independence, and deplored the “sharp rise” in killings of humanitarians worldwide in the past two years.
The United Nations has also warned of the increasing dangers faced by humanitarian workers. In Ukraine, 50 workers have been killed or injured this year, including 11 killed in the line of duty.
The incident highlights the risks faced by aid workers in conflict zones and the need for all parties to respect humanitarian law and protect civilians and aid workers.
