UNITED NATIONS: In the aftermath of Russia’s missile attack on a crowded Ukrainian shopping mall, India has called the deaths of civilians “deeply disturbing”. India’s Deputy Permanent Representative R. Ravindra said in late June: “Reports of deaths of civilians in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict are deeply disturbing and in this regard we express our grave concern. In recent years, critical civilian infrastructure in urban areas have become easy targets in situations of armed conflict”.

“The issue of the protection of civilian objects in armed conflicts should be considered within the framework of applicable international laws,” he said, during a briefing on the Ukraine situation while not naming Russia as the perpetrator of the attack. The June 27 missile attack on the Kremenchuk shopping centre left at least 18 people dead and 21 missing while wounding scores. India has been holding a delicate position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine criticizing Moscow in diplomatic speak without naming it, while facing criticism from some in the West that it was not sufficiently ranged against Russia.

But Ravindra noted that in April “India had (also) unequivocally condemned the killing of civilians in Bucha and supported the call for an independent investigation”. After Russia withdrew from Bucha in March, bodies of several hundred people were discovered in mass graves and reports of attacks on civilians emerged. “India has also been sending humanitarian supplies to Ukraine and its neighbors, which include medicines and other essential relief material”, Ravindra added.

In a stinging attack on Russia, while briefing the Council, Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo said: “The depravity of the war was again on full display yesterday following the missile strike in Kremenchuk”. “This incident, which should be investigated, was the latest in a new wave of airstrikes and missile attacks in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Odessa, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv and other cities far from the frontlines, with many civilians killed or injured”, she said.