ICRC voices concern over humanitarian mission attack near Donetsk

The ICRC expressed concern over an incident involving its humanitarian mission near Donetsk. Its Russian office told RIA Novosti on October 9 that it discusses such incidents confidentially with parties to the conflict.

The organization described the incident as one example of a wider threat to humanitarian workers, premises and cargo. In each such case, it conveys its concerns to the relevant parties through bilateral dialogue.

The office emphasized that the committee does not issue public legal assessments of individual attacks. Its statement therefore is not a finding of legal responsibility against a particular party.

The ICRC said humanitarian personnel, facilities and vehicles bearing its emblem must be respected and protected. All parties should take feasible precautions, verify that targets are military objectives and avoid harm to civilians and civilian objects, it said.

Russian diplomat Rodion Miroshnik had reported a strike on ICRC trucks and a warehouse and blamed Ukraine. That was an allegation by a Russian representative, rather than a published legal assessment by the committee.