Kathrine Frich
A United Nations convoy delivering humanitarian aid in southern Ukraine came under Russian attack on Tuesday, sparking international outrage.
The strike occurred in the Kherson region, near the front line, and left several vehicles destroyed or damaged.
Local authorities described it as a deliberate assault on civilians.
UN convoy hit in Kherson region
According to Oleksandr Prohudin, the governor of the Kherson region, the convoy consisted of four white vehicles clearly marked with UN logos.
They were carrying several tons of humanitarian supplies when Russian forces opened fire in the Bilozerka commune, not far from the Dnieper River.
Drone and artillery fire used
The attack reportedly involved both drones and artillery.
Prohudin said the vehicles were deliberately targeted despite being clearly identifiable as humanitarian transport.
Such strikes on aid convoys violate international law and have drawn condemnation from Ukraine and abroad.
‘A miracle no one was hurt’
“It’s a miracle that no one was hurt,” Governor Prohudin said after visiting the site.
One of the vehicles was completely destroyed by fire, and another was severely damaged.
Thick black smoke could be seen rising from the wreckage in images shared on Telegram.
World Food Programme truck destroyed
Among the damaged vehicles was one belonging to the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP).
Photos showed the truck burning at the edge of a field, its blue-and-white logo still visible on the door.
The WFP has played a key role in supplying food to civilians trapped by the ongoing fighting.
Fighting continues across the Dnieper
The attack occurred just a few kilometres from the Dnieper River, which separates Ukrainian-controlled and Russian-occupied parts of Kherson.
Daily exchanges of small arms and artillery fire continue along both banks, making humanitarian operations in the area extremely dangerous.
Russia accused of deliberate targeting
Ukrainian officials say the strike was no accident.
The vehicles were travelling in daylight and bore visible UN and WFP markings.
“This was a calculated attack on humanitarian workers,” one Ukrainian security source said, describing it as an attempt to intimidate aid agencies.
Foreign Minister condemns ‘total contempt’
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga condemned the strike on X (formerly Twitter), calling it “a new brutal violation of international law.”
He said the attack proved Russia’s “total disregard for civilian lives and its international obligations.”
UN and international response expected
While no UN personnel were reported injured, the organisation is expected to issue a formal response.
Previous attacks on aid operations have prompted strong criticism from the UN and Western governments, who accuse Moscow of weaponising hunger and fear.
The Kherson front remains volatile
Since Russia’s retreat from part of Kherson in 2022, the region has remained one of the most unstable zones in the war.
Russian forces hold the eastern bank of the Dnieper, from where they launch frequent strikes against Ukrainian-held areas. Civilians and aid workers face constant danger.
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, which may have used AI in the preparation
