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Volodymyr Zelensky calls on UN to visit site of Ukraine mall strike
The Anews reported, citing the AFP, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky called for the United Nations to visit the site of a missile strike on a shopping mall in the city of Kremenchuk, as he addressed the UN Security Council on Tuesday (June 28).
Speaking by video from Kyiv and clad in a trademark olive green shirt, the Ukrainian leader also called on members of the Council -- including Russia -- to hold a minute's silence for those killed in the war so far.
Zelensky said of Monday's attack (June 27), in which at least 18 people were killed: "I suggest the United Nations send either a special representative, or the secretary-general of the United Nations... so the UN could independently find out information and see that this indeed was a Russian missile strike.”
And he asked the UN to legally define the term "terrorist state," arguing that Moscow's invasion of his country on February 24 demonstrates "the urgent necessity to enshrine it, literally, at the level of the United Nations and punish any terrorist state."
Meeting of the UN Security Council. We need to act immediately - and do everything to make Russia stop the killings of children, people - everyone. It must be brought to justice for terrorism, otherwise it could bring terrorist activity to other European countries, Asia - the Baltic states, Poland, Moldova, Kazakhstan - many nations have already heard threats from Russian officials and state propagandists. I am grateful to all the diligent and civilized states who share our position and help defend the international legal order.
Posted by Володимир Зеленський on Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Zelensky spoke after Monday's missile strike set off a blaze inside the crowded shopping centre in Kremenchuk.
In addition to the 18 confirmed dead, dozens were injured and many are still missing, authorities have said.
The Russian army claimed Tuesday it had hit a nearby weapons depot with the explosion sparking the blaze at the shopping centre, which according to Moscow was "not operational" at the time.
Russian missiles hit shooping mall in Ukraine with over 1000 people inside
But residents have dismissed that claim, telling AFP they knew of no arms being stored in the area.
Before Zelensky spoke, UN undersecretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council that the UN has now recorded more than 10,600 civilian casulaties in Ukraine, including 4,731 deaths. She said the true toll was "considerably higher."
The report noted that President Zelensky last addressed the Security Council on April 5.
Source: anews
