Ukraine: two French humanitarian workers killed by a Russian strike
A “
cowardly and unworthy act
” deplores Emmanuel Macron after the death of two French humanitarian workers in a Russian strike in Ukraine. Three other people were injured. Ukrainian authorities announced that they had opened an investigation into violations of the laws of war.
This Ukrainian soldier from the 123rd territorial defense brigade monitors the surroundings of the Dnieper, not far from Kherson, November 6, 2023. Illustrative image. AFP - ROMAN PILIPEY
By: RFI Follow
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The two French people were killed in a drone strike, in southern Ukraine
,
in Beryslav, a town of 12,000 inhabitants before the war, which is on the north bank of the Dniep, in the Kherson region near the front line. According to Ukrainian authorities, three other French nationals and a Ukrainian were slightly injured.
The humanitarians targeted belonged, in all likelihood, to a Swiss NGO Entraide protestante which announced on February 2 the death of two of its collaborators in Ukraine - the NGO does not specify for the moment the nationality of the victims but adds that several members of his team were injured and that their evacuation is underway
For their part, the Ukrainian authorities announced that an investigation had been opened for violations of the laws of war.
Also read: Ukraine: kyiv announces the return of 207 Ukrainian prisoners of war
In France, reactions have multiplied since this morning, that of Emmanuel Macron, but also of Stéphane Séjourné, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs who denounces Russian barbarity and assures that Moscow will have to answer for its actions.
Two French humanitarian workers were killed in Ukraine by a Russian strike. Cowardly and unworthy act. I think of their injured loved ones and comrades.
My solidarity goes to all the volunteers who are committed to helping the populations.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 2, 2024
Russian barbarity has targeted civilians in Ukraine.
Two French humanitarians paid for their commitment to the Ukrainians with their lives. Three are injured.
My thoughts are with them and their loved ones. France stands by their side. Russia will have to answer for its crimes.
— Stéphane Séjourné (@steph_sejourne) February 2, 2024
Finally, reaction from Volodymyr Zelensky who salutes the memory of the two humanitarians. “
We will always be grateful for their humanity
,” declared the Ukrainian president.
Russian terror knows no boundaries or victims' nationalities. The brave French aid workers assisted people and we will always be grateful for their humanity. My condolences go out to their loved ones. I wish speedy recovery to the others who were injured in this horrific attack. https://t.co/j5LF1Jqp83
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 2, 2024
Several French civilians have been killed in Ukraine since the start of the war two years ago.
Arman Soldin
, an AFP journalist, was killed in May 2023 during a Russian rocket attack in the east of the country, near Bakhmout. Before him,
Pierre Zakrzewski
, Franco-Irish cameraman for Fox News, was killed in mid-March 2022 northwest of Kiev after the attack on his vehicle and
Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff
, journalist for BFMTV, at the end of May 2022 while he was following a humanitarian mission in the east of the country.
Tensions between France and Russia have been escalating for weeks, with President Macron's announcement in January of new arms deliveries to kyiv.
Also read: Can Ukraine still win the war?
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