Russian Shelling Kills 3 Red Cross Workers, Ukraine Demands ICRC Response

On September 12, Russia’s shelling of Virolyubivka village in the Donetsk region killed 3 Ukrainian ICRC employees and injured 2 people.

This was reported by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets.

“Russia’s artillery shelling was carried out in the village of Virolyubivka in Donetsk region. ICRC employees were inside a truck used to transport humanitarian aid,” wrote Lubinets.

The Ombudsman noted that the fact of the shelling is already public, but there is no reaction from the ICRC, as well as the IFRC.

“No reaction, condemnation, or expression of sympathy! Thus, this silence only covers the criminal policy of the Russian Federation!” stated Lubinets. “The ICRC must officially and publicly recognize Russia's violation of the norms of the Geneva Conventions!”

Humanitarian aid workers, including those working for the Red Cross, are on the list of protected persons under international humanitarian law.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent his condolences to the family and friends of the victims and emphasized the need to fiercely condemn such war crimes.  

According to the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Employees of the ICRC arrived in the settlement to issue fuel briquettes to local residents for heating their homes. At the time of the shelling, they were unloading the delivered aid.

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.