Ukraine: UN official says Mariupol attacks targeted civilians
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 26 January 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Ukraine: UN official says Mariupol attacks targeted civilians, 26 January 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/54e1a4394.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
January 26, 2015
A senior UN official says the deadly rocket attacks on the eastern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol intentionally targeted civilians and were a "violation of international humanitarian law."
UN political affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman also told an emergency meeting of the Security Council on January 26 that a crater analysis by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) indicated the rocket attack came from territory held by pro-Russian separatists.
The January 24 attack killed 30 civilians and injured dozens of others.
Russia's UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, blamed Kyiv for renewed fighting in eastern Ukraine.
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said Russia's "end goal" is to "seize more territory" from Ukraine.
She added that fighting "is waged by Russian-trained and Russian-funded separatists who use Russian missiles and Russian tanks."
Russia blocked a proposed UN Security Council statement on January 25 that would have condemned the Mariupol attack.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website