Reports of Russian airstrikes on the eastern Ukrainian town of Kharkiv, which lies near the border with Russia, have left 11 people dead including 5 children.
This is not the first occasion that Russia has used airstrikes in its attempts to destabilise Ukraine and continues to pose a threat to the security of the country. Ukrainian forces have been in conflict with pro-Russian separatists since 2014, when Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula, and the fighting has been escalating in recent months.
The airstrikes struck several houses in Kharkiv, causing destruction to the buildings and leaving 11 dead, including 5 children, and 3 other people injured. Ukrainian authorities say the strikes were conducted by Russian military planes, although this has not been confirmed by Russian authorities.
The news of such indiscriminate violence against a civilian population has been met with horror and condemnation, with Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Hennadiy Zubko calling the attack a “blatant attack on the Ukrainian people”. He also commented that the incident “confirmed the real nature of the Russian occupation of Ukraine.”
Leaders of European countries have also spoken out against the Russian airstrikes. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the incident “irresponsible” and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke of his “dismay”, whilst Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfvén said the strikes were a “violation of international law.”
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) condemned the airstrikes and called on all parties to the conflict to “refrain from any further actions that may exacerbate the situation.”
The Russian attack on the eastern Ukrainian town of Kharkiv is yet another stark reminder of the continuing need for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. The world cannot sit idly by whilst innocent civilians are killed, and it is essential that Russian authorities are held accountable. The UNSC must take decisive action to ensure that Russia is brought to justice and that its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine ceases.
