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Ukraine crisis: Red Cross condemns Donetsk shelling | Ukraine crisis: Red Cross condemns Donetsk shelling |
(35 minutes later) | |
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has condemned indiscriminate shelling in east Ukraine after a Red Cross employee was killed. | The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has condemned indiscriminate shelling in east Ukraine after a Red Cross employee was killed. |
Swiss citizen Laurent DuPasquier, 38, was killed when a shell landed near ICRC offices in the rebel-held city of Donetsk on Thursday. | Swiss citizen Laurent DuPasquier, 38, was killed when a shell landed near ICRC offices in the rebel-held city of Donetsk on Thursday. |
He was one of several casualties in the city, ICRC director of operations Dominik Stillhart said in a statement. | He was one of several casualties in the city, ICRC director of operations Dominik Stillhart said in a statement. |
The rebels and the government blamed each other for the shelling. | The rebels and the government blamed each other for the shelling. |
A rebel push began this week to eject troops holed up at the city's heavily damaged airport. | A rebel push began this week to eject troops holed up at the city's heavily damaged airport. |
The two sides have accused each other of violations since a ceasefire was called in the region on 5 September. | The two sides have accused each other of violations since a ceasefire was called in the region on 5 September. |
More than 3,500 people have been killed in the east Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk since the conflict erupted between pro-Russian separatists and the new Kiev government in April. | More than 3,500 people have been killed in the east Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk since the conflict erupted between pro-Russian separatists and the new Kiev government in April. |
Mortar shells landed in central Donetsk early on Friday, the BBC's Dina Newman reports from a hotel in the city centre. | |
'Deeply distressed' | 'Deeply distressed' |
Mr DuPasquier, who worked as an administrator at the ICRC offices, had been in Ukraine six weeks when he was killed. | Mr DuPasquier, who worked as an administrator at the ICRC offices, had been in Ukraine six weeks when he was killed. |
Other ICRC staff, including about 20 Ukrainian and international employees based in Donetsk, were "in safety" following the attack, Mr Stillhart said in the statement on Thursday. | Other ICRC staff, including about 20 Ukrainian and international employees based in Donetsk, were "in safety" following the attack, Mr Stillhart said in the statement on Thursday. |
"Indiscriminate shelling of residential areas is unacceptable and violates international humanitarian law," he said. | "Indiscriminate shelling of residential areas is unacceptable and violates international humanitarian law," he said. |
The office is located in a three-storey building less than 1km from the state security headquarters, which has been occupied by the separatists along with other strategic points in the city since April. | The office is located in a three-storey building less than 1km from the state security headquarters, which has been occupied by the separatists along with other strategic points in the city since April. |
It appears Mr DuPasquier was killed by the blast in the street. | It appears Mr DuPasquier was killed by the blast in the street. |
ICRC spokesman Ewan Watson told Reuters news agency: "We're deeply distressed by this loss." | ICRC spokesman Ewan Watson told Reuters news agency: "We're deeply distressed by this loss." |
According to AFP news agency, rockets also slammed into a 14-storey central shopping centre shortly before 18:00 (15:00 GMT) on Thursday. | According to AFP news agency, rockets also slammed into a 14-storey central shopping centre shortly before 18:00 (15:00 GMT) on Thursday. |
The city was long under siege by government troops but recent rebel successes loosened their encirclement. | The city was long under siege by government troops but recent rebel successes loosened their encirclement. |
On Wednesday, four people were killed by a shell which landed on a school in Donetsk, and six died when a minibus was hit. | On Wednesday, four people were killed by a shell which landed on a school in Donetsk, and six died when a minibus was hit. |
A Ukrainian general, Volodymyr Ruban, is in central Donetsk. He told the BBC that he is part of the monitoring group checking on violations of the ceasefire. | |
Gen Ruban has been negotiating directly with rebel commanders and was involved in arranging prisoner exchanges. |