The Russian drone attack on vehicles belonging to a UN humanitarian mission in Kherson during the delivery of aid to the Korabel neighbourhood was deliberate, as Russian forces understood they were targeting humanitarian transport, said the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Prokudin.
The Director of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Ukraine (OCHA), Andrea De Domenico, whose vehicle had been struck by two drones shortly before the meeting, said on a phone interview with the Odessa Journal that each mission of the OCHA is reported ahead of time to both warring governments, through UN official channel. Therefore, it is very unlikely that the attack could be considered an accident.
“Thursday our objective was to deliver humanitarian assistance to civilians, mainly fragile elderly, stuck in Ostriv due constant shelling and FPV attacks. Constant attacks on civilians are unacceptable and outrageous, as it is attacking a clearly marked convoy of the United Nations. Last week has been terrible. So many civilians injured and killed across Ukraine, and multiple attacks on humanitarians including two direct attacks against the UN,” De Domenico added.
Prokudin noted that the Russian side described the damaged vehicle as “dual-use transport,” despite the fact that it was clearly marked humanitarian mission transport protected under international law.
“But Russians have long ceased to care about international law, humanitarian missions, or civilian lives. This was an absolutely deliberate strike. They clearly saw where they were directing explosive-laden drones — at a vehicle carrying life-saving humanitarian aid to people,” the regional governor stressed.
According to him, fragments of a Russian “Skvorets” type drone were found at the strike site.
