War in Ukraine: France condemns Moscow’s “barbaric attacks” against civilians

Paris condemned on Friday the “barbaric attacks” against civilians carried out in recent days by Moscow in Ukraine, as well as strikes targeting infrastructure, denouncing an “escalation desired by Russia”. “France condemns in the strongest terms Russia's strikes against Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure in recent days,” notably “the barbaric attacks which targeted a residential building in Pryluky and two buses in Kramatorsk” on Wednesday and Thursday, causing a total of more than 50 deaths, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

“Deeply alarmed by these attacks which demonstrate the escalation desired by Russia”, the Quai d'Orsay denounced a “systematic targeting of the civilian population, which aims to sow terror”. This is “unworthy of a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council,” criticized Paris, which reaffirms its commitment “to the side of Ukraine to support it in its resistance to Russian aggression and to provide it with the necessary security guarantees once peace returns.”

Skip the ad

“Russia’s crimes will not go unpunished. France, with its partners, continues to support efforts to document attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure and to bring those responsible to justice,” added the Quai d’Orsay. At least 30 people were killed Thursday in a Russian strike that hit two buses in Kramatorsk, a key city on the front in eastern Ukraine, in one of the deadliest attacks in recent weeks.

“Considerable damage”

The day before, Russian strikes had already left 30 dead across the country, including 22 in the same residential building in Prylouky (north), gutted by a missile. Recent Russian bombings in Ukraine have also caused “considerable damage” to the national electricity network, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lamented on Friday, raising fears once again of a very difficult winter for the population.

Ukraine lacks anti-aircraft assets, including Patriot systems to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles, which are more difficult to intercept. kyiv fears a repeat of the scenario of last winter, when Russia shelled the country's energy installations, plunging millions of homes into cold and darkness.