Ukraine – Massive new Russian air strikes (4 May 2023)

France condemns Russia’s latest barrage of missile and drone strikes in the strongest possible terms as well as the continued bombardment of targets throughout Ukraine over the past few days. The cities of Kyiv, Odesa, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia were all hit by missile or drone salvos.

These strikes and bombardments once again deliberately targeted civilian objectives and resulted in civilian casualties. The bombing of various civilian sites in the city and region of Kherson, including a supermarket and a train station, reportedly left 21 dead and 48 wounded, according to an initial estimate by Ukrainian authorities. This targeting of civilian infrastructures and populations underscores Russia’s clear intention to continue escalating its war of aggression in Ukraine.

As Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna has stressed repeatedly, these unacceptable actions are war crimes and cannot go unpunished. France will continue to provide support to Ukrainian courts and to the International Criminal Court to combat impunity for such crimes. It will also continue its military and civilian support in order to bolster Ukrainian resilience for as long as necessary.