Russian envoy says Ukrainian drones struck ICRC warehouse and trucks in Donetsk
In short
Rodion Miroshnik, ambassador-at-large of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said Ukrainian drones struck a warehouse with humanitarian aid of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Donetsk, damaging three ICRC trucks. He said the strikes took place on 6 September, first at 03:00 and then at 05:45. Miroshnik called on states that support the ICRC to give the attack a legal assessment.
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Rodion Miroshnik, ambassador-at-large of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said Ukrainian forces carried out deliberate strikes on trucks and a warehouse with humanitarian aid of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Donetsk. RIA Novosti, TASS and Vedomosti reported his statements on 8 October; Vedomosti said he made them in his Telegram channel. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to Miroshnik, Ukrainian aircraft-type drones of the B-2 modification struck the warehouse site on 6 September, first at 03:00 and then at 05:45. Citing local authorities of the DPR, he said three ICRC trucks bearing Red Cross symbols were damaged and building materials kept both on the site and inside the warehouse building were destroyed. TASS also reported the materials destroyed, while Vedomosti, reporting the same statement, described them as damaged and said they were intended for restoring civilian facilities. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Miroshnik said the warehouse and the Red Cross vehicles were marked with red emblems of the organisation, and that the Ukrainian side had been duly informed of the warehouse's location under the established procedure but attacked it deliberately. "The very fact that Kyiv committed this crime underlines Ukraine's disregard of the norms of international humanitarian law that give special protection to ICRC staff and property," he wrote, according to Vedomosti. TASS also reported his view that the attack highlights this disregard. [ 4 , 5 ]
Miroshnik said such actions must receive an assessment from the states that support the ICRC's work. Vedomosti reported that he called for a legal assessment of the attack by those states. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
Miroshnik said the attack shows Ukraine's disregard of international humanitarian law norms that give special protection to ICRC staff and property, and asked states supporting the ICRC to respond. In these documents the account comes only from Miroshnik and the DPR local authorities he cited.
Key facts
- Rodion Miroshnik, ambassador-at-large of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said Ukrainian forces struck ICRC trucks and a warehouse with humanitarian aid in Donetsk. [ 1 , 4 ]
- According to Miroshnik, Ukrainian aircraft-type drones of the B-2 modification struck the warehouse site on 6 September, first at 03:00 and then at 05:45. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Three ICRC trucks were damaged. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- RIA Novosti and TASS reported that building materials at the warehouse were destroyed; Vedomosti reported them as damaged and said they were intended for restoring civilian facilities. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Miroshnik said the Ukrainian side had been informed of the warehouse's location under the established procedure. [ 4 ]
- Miroshnik said the attack highlights Ukraine's disregard of the norms of international humanitarian law. [ 4 , 5 ]
- He called on states that support the ICRC's work to give the attack a legal assessment. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Miroshnik said Ukrainian forces attacked an ICRC warehouse in Donetsk. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Three ICRC trucks were damaged. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- According to Miroshnik, the strikes took place on 6 September at 03:00 and 05:45. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Miroshnik said the attack highlights Ukraine's disregard of international humanitarian law norms. [ 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- When the strikes happened relative to the reports. The documents date the strikes to 6 September, while the reports were published on 8 October; they do not explain the gap.
- Whether the building materials were destroyed or damaged. RIA Novosti and TASS say destroyed; Vedomosti says damaged.
- Responses from Ukraine and the ICRC. None of the documents includes a statement from Ukraine or the ICRC.
- Whether anyone was hurt. The documents do not mention casualties.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- 6 September: first drone strike on the ICRC warehouse site, according to Miroshnik. [ 1 , 4 ]
- 6 September: second drone strike on the warehouse site, according to Miroshnik. [ 1 , 4 ]
- 8 October: RIA Novosti reports Miroshnik's statement on the strikes. [ 1 ]
- TASS reports three trucks damaged and building materials destroyed. [ 3 ]
- Vedomosti reports Miroshnik's call for a legal assessment by states supporting the ICRC. [ 4 ]
- TASS reports Miroshnik saying the attack highlights Ukraine's disregard of international humanitarian law. [ 5 ]