Last Thursday, a Russian rocket attack aimed at Hroza, Ukraine, resulted in the loss of at least 51 civilians, according to Ukrainian authorities. The impacted sites were a local cafe and a grocery store. In a sorrowful addition to the tragic event, a six-year-old child was among the deceased confirmed by Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.
The devastation of the attack has made for a meticulous recovery process. Rescuers and forensic scientists are working tirelessly to scour through debris and identify those who have lost their lives. With Hroza being a small village of around 300 people, this catastrophic event has deeply affected the local community.
The laws safeguarding civilians during armed conflict were blatantly disregarded in the attack. The Geneva Convention IV and the Articles 51 and 52 of the Protocol One explicitly prohibit targeted acts of violence towards civilians and civilian objects. Although both Ukraine and Russia were parties to the treaty, Russia withdrew its declaration recognizing the competence of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission in 2019. However, this decision does not absolve them from their violent acts under international law.
During a recent summit, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged European leaders to acknowledge the deadly crises. He passionately called on the world’s unity against what he termed as “absolute evil,” emphasizing the intolerable nature of Russia’s actions in his speech.
Following the attack, expressions of shock have come from various corners of the world. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk was among those who voiced their sadness, terming it as one of the deadliest attacks in the last 20 months.
Read the full report on this incident here.