Ukraine drone strikes on Russia do not violate international law, Germany’s Baerbock says

Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told DW.

"Russia has attacked Ukraine. Therefore, according to the UN Charter, Ukraine has the legal right to defend its country and its people. Russia is violating the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force. Russia is continuously bombing civilian targets in Ukraine: granaries, hospitals, churches. And Ukraine is defending itself within the framework of international law," this is how the German Foreign Minister answered journalists' questions about drone attacks on Russian territory.

Baerbock also stressed that Ukraine is facing the problem of demining vast territories previously occupied by the Russian Federation. According to the minister, Russian forces have mined an area in Ukraine "roughly the size of western Germany", and Berlin and its allies are currently discussing further assistance to Kyiv in demining.

• On the night of July 30, the Russian capital was attacked by drones that were allegedly shot down by air defences. The building of the Moscow City business centre, which houses the offices of several Russian ministries, was damaged.

• On the night of August 1, drones attacked Moscow again - one of the UAVs hit the Moscow City tower, the Russian Defence Ministry blamed Ukraine. 

• On the night of August 22, another drone attack on Moscow took place. Authorities report four drones shot down by air defence. There are damaged houses and cars.