On September 12, 2024, Russian forces launched a deadly attack on a humanitarian convoy in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) employees and injuring two others. The attack occurred in the village of Verolyubivka while the ICRC team was distributing aid, including fuel briquettes for winter heating.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly condemned the attack, calling it ‘another Russian war crime’. He urged the international community to respond firmly, stating, ‘We cannot remain indifferent – neither countries nor international organizations. Only together can the world force Russia to stop this terror and make Moscow seek peace’.ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric also condemned the attack in the strongest terms, saying, ‘It’s unconscionable that shelling would hit an aid distribution site’. The ICRC emphasized the importance of protecting humanitarian aid workers.In a separate incident on the same day, Ukraine accused Russia of attacking a civilian cargo ship carrying wheat to Egypt in the Black Sea. According to President Zelensky, the ship was targeted immediately after leaving Ukrainian territorial waters, though no casualties were reported in this attack. Zelensky stressed the importance of Ukraine’s role in global food security, stating, ‘Grain and food security should never be a target for missiles’.These incidents have further escalated tensions in the ongoing conflict. The United States and United Kingdom have reportedly decided to provide Ukraine with hundreds of missiles, including Storm Shadow missiles, to be used against Russian targets, though this decision has not been officially announced.As the conflict continues to intensify, the international community faces increasing pressure to respond to these attacks on humanitarian workers and civilian infrastructure. The incidents highlight the growing risks faced by aid workers in conflict zones and the potential for further disruption to global food supplies.
Key points
- Russian forces attacked a Red Cross convoy in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, killing three ICRC employees and injuring two others.
- Ukraine accused Russia of attacking a civilian cargo ship carrying wheat in the Black Sea, highlighting threats to global food security.
- International community faces pressure to respond to attacks on humanitarian workers and civilian infrastructure.
Contradictions👾While most sources agree on the details of the Red Cross convoy attack, there are slight variations in the reported location, with some mentioning Verolyubivka and others referring to Viorliubivka.
