Ukraine – France condemns russian strike on the city of Lyman ( 8 July 2023)

France utterly condemns the Russian shelling that targeted the city of Lyman in the Donetsk region today, Saturday 8 July, killing at least six people and wounding around 10 others.

At a time when Ukraine has been defending itself courageously for 500 days in the war of aggression waged by Russia, this Russian strike deliberately targeted civilians, which is a further blatant violation of international humanitarian law.

As the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mme Catherine Colonna, has repeatedly emphasized, these unacceptable acts constitute war crimes and cannot go unpunished. In close coordination with its partners, France will continue to provide Ukraine with the help necessary for it to act in self-defence. It will also go on supporting the Ukrainian courts and the International Criminal Court in order to combat impunity for the crimes committed by Russia.

This 500th day of war should lead Russia to realize that it is at an impasse and must immediately halt its illegal war of aggression.