Russia attacks rescue vessels in maritime corridor: Casualties reported
Russia has struck two search-and-rescue vessels in the Black Sea, leaving several people wounded.
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Oleksii Kuleba: Russia deliberately disregards international law by attacking Maritime Search and Rescue Service vessels
Russian forces attacked two civilian search-and-rescue vessels in the Black Sea, said Oleksii Kuleba, Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister for Restoration and Minister for Communities and Territories Development.
According to him, the Russians struck two boats belonging to the Maritime Search and Rescue Service, which were conducting a humanitarian mission within the Ukrainian maritime corridor.
"Unfortunately, there are casualties. Evacuation by Ukrainian Navy boats is currently underway," the minister said.
Kuleba reminded that small coastal search-and-rescue vessels are granted special protection under international humanitarian law. Specifically, Article 27 of the Second Geneva Convention of 1949 explicitly provides protection for vessels used by the state or officially recognized rescue organizations solely for search-and-rescue operations and assisting people at sea.
"This attack is yet more proof of the Russia's deliberate disregard for the norms of international law and the creation of a direct threat to the safe operation of humanitarian maritime corridors in the Black Sea," the minister said.
