News

On 15 October, a representative of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Lithuania was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and handed a note of strong protest over the continuing attacks by the Russian armed forces against Ukraine.

The note emphasises that on the night of 13 to 14 October, Russia launched a combined missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, killing at least three civilians and injuring dozens more, including children. Residential buildings, civilian facilities, energy infrastructure and other civilian infrastructure were also destroyed.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that Russia’s strikes against Ukraine’s energy and other civilian infrastructure clearly contradict its public statements regarding a possible ceasefire in the energy sector and once again demonstrate the discrepancy between Russia’s declarations and its actions.

On 13 October, a Russian attack on Rivne State University for the Humanities completely destroyed the building housing the university’s Faculty of Music, injured university staff and damaged educational buildings. This attack once again confirms Russia’s deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure, including educational institutions.

Significant casualties and damage were also reported in Kharkiv, where at least four civilians were killed and dozens injured. The consequences of the attacks were also recorded in the Lviv, Donetsk, Sumy, Kherson and Vinnytsia regions, as well as in other parts of Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stresses that Russia’s attacks against civilians and vital civilian infrastructure are unacceptable and violate fundamental human rights, including the right to life and security. The systematic terrorisation of civilians and destruction of vital infrastructure constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

The Republic of Lithuania demands that Russia immediately cease its aggression against Ukraine, withdraw its occupying forces from the entire internationally recognised territory of Ukraine, provide full reparation for all damage suffered by Ukraine as a result of Russia’s aggression, and ensure that those who ordered, organised and perpetrated crimes committed in the course of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine are identified and held to account.