Espreso. Global

UN responds to Ukraine's MFA call to join humanitarian response in Kursk region

Sofia Polonska
17 September, 2024 Tuesday
18:20

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has asked the UN and the Red Cross to join the humanitarian response in the Kursk region. The UN said it needed Russia's permission to do so

client/title.list_title

The appeal to the UN and the Red Cross was published on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 16.

The ministry stressed that Ukraine adheres to its international obligations in the field of international humanitarian law, in particular, the protection of civilians during hostilities in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation. 

‘From the very first days of the Kursk operation, the Ukrainian Defence Forces, as a civilised European army, have demonstrated high professionalism and full compliance with the principles of international humanitarian law. Civilians in the Kursk region have received and continue to receive humanitarian aid, basic humanitarian needs, and the opportunity to leave the combat areas,’ the Foreign Ministry stressed.

Therefore, taking into account the humanitarian situation and the need to ensure the fundamental human rights in the Kursk region, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine appealed to the United Nations to join the humanitarian response in the area and sent a note to the UN.

In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed a note to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as the guarantor of international humanitarian law, asking it to join the humanitarian response and monitor compliance with the principles of international humanitarian law in accordance with the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949.

‘Ukraine reaffirms its strict compliance with its international obligations in these areas and is ready to provide full assistance to the UN and ICRC staff in these territories,’ the ministry said.

UN reaction

On September 17, the UN said that it was ready to arrive in the territory of the Kursk region controlled by Ukraine, but that the organisation's representatives needed permission from the Russian Federation, Voice of America reports, citing UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

The Red Cross has not yet responded to the request.

The Kremlin's reaction and the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's response

Meanwhile, the Russian dictator's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, called Ukraine's invitation to UN and ICRC representatives to visit the territories of the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, which are now controlled by the Armed Forces, a provocation. 

‘We expect that such provocative statements will not be perceived by the recipients. This is a pure kind of provocation,’ Peskov said.

In his turn, Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhyi said that such a statement by the Russian authorities ‘testifies to Russia's disregard for its own people’.

‘The Kremlin's reaction to Ukraine's proposal to the UN and the ICRC to join humanitarian efforts in the Kursk region shows that Russia is ignoring its own people and their humanitarian needs, as well as its fear of allowing international observers to see the real situation. Quite eloquently,’ he wrote on the social network X.

  • On September 1, the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that residents of the Russian Kursk region complained to the Ukrainian military that Russia was not allowing civilians to use the evacuation corridor.
Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2025, Wednesday
19 February
13:55
Updated
U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg arrives in Kyiv for talks
13:54
Ukraine’s Air Force confirms precision strike on Russian troop dislocation in Zaporizhzhia region
13:32
Elections in Ukraine immediately after ceasefire are unrealistic – Ukrainian MP
13:08
EU approves 16th sanctions package against Russia – Journalist Jozwiak
12:56
Affiliate Material
I wasn't afraid of causing pain — it helped the wounded: combat medic Lidiia Zabolotska's story
12:35
Russia in Riyadh lies about not targeting Ukraine’s energy sector as it strikes Odesa – Zelenskyy
12:13
OPINION
Ukraine expects unity from Europeans, Europeans expect unity from Ukraine
11:57
Zelenskyy delays Saudi Arabia visit to avoid legitimizing U.S.-Russia talks
11:36
Review
Kurakhove pocket: Ukrainian Armed Forces hold ground under extreme conditions. Serhiy Zgurets' column
11:10
UK may supply Ukraine with Typhoon fighter jets if ceasefire is reached
10:36
Russia remains unwilling to negotiate on Ukraine following talks in Saudi Arabia — ISW
10:15
Russian drone attack causes power, water, and heating outages in Odesa, leaves 4 injured
09:54
Russia’s Syzran oil refinery on fire after drone strike
09:30
Russia loses 1,300 soldiers, 19 tanks, 72 artillery systems in one day of war in Ukraine
2025, Tuesday
18 February
21:30
EU plans to provide Ukraine with €6 billion military aid package amid US-Russia talks
21:15
Exclusive
Massive Russian force gathers near Ukraine's Lyman as attacks intensify
21:01
Exclusive
"Signal to world and primarily Europe": MP Tsymbaliuk on US-Russia negotiations
20:42
Ukraine will not legally recognize Russian-occupied territories, says Zelenskyy
20:26
Turkey is ideal for negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and US, says Erdogan
20:11
Updated
Fox News reports on proposed three-stage peace plan by Russia and US. Lavrov claims he hasn't seen it
19:56
Exclusive
Ukraine prepares for elections, says former SBU officer
19:40
OPINION
How 50% became stumbling block in Ukraine-US relations
19:25
UK Defence Secretary declares world is in "new era of threat"
19:09
How Ukrainian simulators help troops master new weapons
18:50
Exclusive
EU plans to extend sanctions against Russia - Espreso correspondent from Brussels
18:31
US-Ukraine mineral deal terms worse than Germany's post-war reparations – The Telegraph
18:10
Ukraine won't accept Russia's ultimatums: Zelenskyy on US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia
17:52
Zelenskyy, First Lady inaugurate Ukraine's new Embassy building in Ankara
17:30
Europe ready to ramp up defense efforts for Ukraine amid global pressure — Ursula von der Leyen
17:11
Russia says European peacekeepers in Ukraine would be viewed as “escalatory step”
16:54
Exclusive
Trump appears to be outmaneuvering both Beijing and Moscow, says political analyst
16:36
Exclusive
EU aims to compete with U.S. for global influence – Espreso correspondent from Brussels
16:15
Ukraine’s strike on rare Russian S-350 puts pressure on Moscow’s defenses
15:55
Ukraine Russia war live map, February 5-12
Russia's year-long push for Pokrovsk shows no success: military observer explains why
15:27
Exclusive
Europe faces a new reality – Ukrainian MP Knyazhytskyi from Paris
15:12
Lithuania calls for security guarantees before considering troop deployment to Ukraine
15:06
Updated
U.S. and Russia hold over 4-hour talks in Saudi Arabia
14:55
Ukraine allocates over $35 million to maintain Chornobyl shelter
14:31
Russia enhances accuracy of North Korean KN-23 missiles — Ukraine's spy chief
14:22
Reuters streams live from Maidan Nezalezhnosti, Kyiv authorities respond
More news