July 9, 2024
Russia has once again deliberately targeted residential areas and healthcare infrastructures
Mr. President,
I would like to thank Ms. Msuya and Mr. Zhovnir for their contributions.
On Monday July 8, Russia carried out massive strikes against numerous civilian targets in Ukraine. These missiles hit the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital, where children are treated for serious pathologies, including cancer. Another strike, a few hours later, hit a medical center in Kiev. According to provisional figures, these attacks killed at least 37 people.
Once again, Russia has deliberately targeted residential areas and healthcare infrastructures. France condemns these flagrant violations of international law, which add to the long list of war crimes for which Russia must be held accountable.
As it has been doing for almost two years with massive strikes on the country’s energy infrastructure, it is targeting civilian targets and seeking to undermine the resilience of the Ukrainian people.
France reaffirms its support for the work carried out by the United Nations and other organizations to document these violations and ensure accountability.
These acts come on top of the forced transfers of Ukrainian children. All these serious acts of violence committed against children have once again this year justified Russia’s inscription on the List of Shame of the annual report on children in armed conflict.
These facts confirm once again that our support for Ukraine must continue and increase. As the European Council recalled on June 27, Russia cannot and must not win this war. France will therefore continue to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to defend itself, for as long as it takes.
It will continue to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine. France has contributed 300 million euros in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, France will mobilize over 100 million euros in the health, education, demining, energy and water sectors.
We reiterate our call on Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory, as demanded by the International Court of Justice on March 16, 2022. We will remain mobilized to ensure respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter, and will relentlessly condemn their violation.
Thank you.