Three aid workers from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were killed in eastern Ukraine after their vehicle was hit by shelling during a planned aid distribution in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the attack as a “Russian war crime”. The ICRC confirmed the deaths and injuries of its staff, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of their colleagues.
The incident occurred as Russian forces intensified their offensive in Donetsk, cutting off essential supplies like water and gas to cities like Pokrovsk and Borova. Russian shelling in the Kharkiv region also led to the death of two people and injured seven others. Additionally, a cargo ship carrying wheat en route to Egypt was struck by a Russian missile on the Black Sea.
The escalation of violence comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded a European trip focused on Ukraine, where officials pleaded for access to Western-supplied long-range weapons to combat Russian aggression. While in Poland, Blinken reiterated the US commitment to support Ukraine and adapt to the evolving situation on the ground.
The ICRC expressed outrage over the attack on its aid workers, emphasizing the need to respect international humanitarian law and ensure the safety of those providing essential assistance in conflict zones. The devastating loss of life highlights the continued impact of the conflict in eastern Ukraine and the dire need for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
