ICRC Condemns Attack on Humanitarian Mission Without Mentioning Russia

The International Committee of the Red Cross has responded to the deaths of its humanitarian mission staff after three Red Cross employees were killed and two others were injured as a result of Russian shelling.

In a statement condemning the attack, ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric did not explicitly name Russia as the culprit.

"I condemn in the strongest terms the attacks on Red Cross staff. It is unacceptable that a place distributing aid was shelled. Today, our hearts are broken; we mourn the loss of our colleagues and care for the wounded," said ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric.

The ICRC staff had arrived to distribute fuel briquettes for heating homes. At the time of the attack, they were unloading aid.

Red Cross missions regularly visit the Donetsk region. Their vehicles are marked with the Red Cross emblem. Any attack on the ICRC is a violation of international humanitarian law.

A pre-trial investigation was started in criminal proceedings on the fact of violation of the laws and customs of war. The Russian troops are suspected to have used barrel artillery to strike the cars of the ICRC.