Ukraine said Monday that it asked the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to observe the situation in areas of Russia’s Kursk region that its forces seized following their surprise incursion early last month.
“I instructed the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry to officially invite the UN and ICRC to join humanitarian efforts in the Kursk region,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said on social media. “Ukraine is ready to facilitate their work and prove its adherence to international humanitarian law.”
Since launching the cross-border incursion on Aug. 6, authorities in Kyiv have sought to portray the offensive and subsequent military presence in parts of the Kursk region as being different from Russia’s occupation of eastern Ukraine — which Moscow claims to have annexed.
“From the very first days of the Kursk operation, the Ukrainian Defense Forces, as a civilized European army, have demonstrated high professionalism and full compliance with the principles of international humanitarian law,” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said.
Moscow has denounced the offensive, which forced the evacuation of more than 150,000 Russian civilians.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s statement came as ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric arrived in Moscow for a planned visit to discuss a range of issues. That visit comes just a few days after shelling killed three ICRC workers in eastern Ukraine.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said last week that its forces were on the offensive in the Kursk region, recapturing nearly one dozen towns.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also confirmed that Russian forces had launched a counteroffensive in the Kursk region, but insisted Kyiv’s incursion was still going according to plan.
AFP contributed reporting.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has designated The Moscow Times as an “undesirable” organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a “foreign agent.”
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work “discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership.” We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It’s quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you’re defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.
×
Remind me next month
Thank you! Your reminder is set.
