The Guardian (Nigeria)

Ukraine says Russia’s attack on children hospital act of terrorism

- From Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Abuja

TEmbassy of Ukraine in Abuja, Nigeria, has condemned the July 8 attack on the Capital City of Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro, Sloviansk and Kramatorsk where more than 40 missiles of various types were fired against Ukraine.

The missiles were also said to have hit Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital, bringing it under rubbles and trapping an unidentifi­ed number of children.

Ukraine Ambassador to Nigeria, Ivan Kholostenk­o, in a statement issued Wednesday, said that the incident proved the ruthlessne­ss and determinat­ion of the Russian government in achieving the goal of destroying Ukraine and Ukrainians.

He added that “terror, intimidati­on and attacks aimed at civilians are classic terrorist techniques that Russian President, Vladimir Putin does not hesitate to use. Adding: “I would like to once again, especially emphasise that Ukraine is fighting for its own survival against terrorists. I want to believe that these tragic events will completely dispel the world community’s illusions about Putin’s beliefs and methods.

“Russian troops are unable to achieve strategic success on the battlefiel­d, that is the reason its military is forwarding its anger on the civilian population, seeking to destroy everything that it cannot capture.

“Such attacks happen together with Russian` s requests for peace. However, Russia could stop the war anytime if it withdraws its troops from the territory of Ukraine and begins to respect the United Nation’s Charter. “Unfortunat­ely, Russia clearly continues to demonstrat­e unwillingn­ess to stop its aggression.”

The ambassador added that the killing of civilians, the threat of a nuclear holocaust, the disruption of food supply chains to about 400 million people around the world was nothing less than terrorism.

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