KYIV, Ukraine (FN) — Ukrainian officials on Tuesday accused Russian forces of deliberately targeting a United Nations humanitarian aid convoy in the southern Kherson region, in what they described as a flagrant breach of international law.
The strike reportedly occurred near the frontline town of Bilozerka and involved both drone and artillery fire, according to regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin. He said the convoy was operated by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
“The occupiers deliberately targeted UN OCHA trucks with drones and artillery,” Prokudin wrote on social media. “One vehicle burned down, another was seriously damaged, and two others survived without damage.”
No casualties were reported in the attack, but Ukrainian officials condemned the incident as part of a broader pattern of strikes on humanitarian operations during Russia’s nearly four-year invasion.
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga called the attack “another brutal violation of international law” and said it demonstrated Russia’s “utter disregard for civilian lives and its international obligations.”
Photographs released by Ukrainian officials show a scorched vehicle bearing a UN logo, surrounded by debris in what appears to be a semi-rural area close to the frontline.
The United Nations has not immediately issued a statement confirming or commenting on the reported incident. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has been active in the Kherson region, delivering food, medical supplies, and shelter materials to civilians affected by the ongoing conflict.
Kherson remains one of the most contested regions in the war, with Ukrainian and Russian forces engaged in frequent artillery duels and drone attacks along the Dnipro River, which separates territory controlled by each side.
Both Ukrainian authorities and international aid agencies have repeatedly reported attacks on humanitarian workers and convoys since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Humanitarian corridors and aid operations have frequently been disrupted by military activity.
The incident adds to growing international scrutiny over Russia’s conduct in occupied and contested areas of Ukraine, where allegations of war crimes and violations of the Geneva Conventions continue to mount.
