Russian-backed fighters kill medic in evacuation, drawing condemnation

Russian-backed fighters shot and killed a medic, and injured two soldiers, during an evacuation attempt of the body of a fourth Ukrainian soldier, who was killed in fighting in the Donetsk region on July 13, the Joint Forces Operation press service reported that evening. “The insidious murder of a medic, who had all the appropriate markings, is the latest evidence that the Russian-occupational subunits do not even intend to uphold any international norms,” the press service said in its statement. A total of three Ukrainian soldiers, including the medic, were killed that day, and a total of two were injured amid 18 ceasefire violations by Russian-backed forces. The next day on July 14, seven Ukrainian soldiers were injured amid 18 ceasefire violations.

In response to the medic’s killing, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told a July 14 press briefing that it has the signs of a war crime. “I will personally raise this issue. The response will be maximally harsh. We will involve all our partners. This situation will draw outrage. This is an act of barbarism,” Kuleba said. In his turn, President Zelensky expressed his condolences to the family members of the victims, referring to the incident as an “incomprehensible tragedy.”

Zenon Zawada: Despite Kuleba’s assurances, the savagery of the Russian-backed forces has been going mostly unpunished since the war began in 2014. This is part of why Ukrainians have grown exhausted from the war and voted for Zelensky to put an end to it. Now that he’s shown himself incapable of ending the war, the pro-Putin Opposition Platform For Life will have strong results in the southeastern regions in the October local elections.

The positive news is that a poll published on July 14 indicated that the majority of the residents of Kyiv, Ukraine’s largest city of about 3 mln, are not interested in capitulating to Russia. About 20.4% of decided Kyiv voters will cast their ballot for the pro-NATO European Solidarity party led by former President Poroshenko. Another 19.3% said they will vote for the pro-Zelensky People’s Servant party (also against capitulation), and 11.5% will vote for the UDAR party led by Mayor Vitali Klitschko (also against capitulation).

That’s 51.2% between the three anti-capitulation parties. And that’s compared to 10.6% for the pro-Putin Opposition Platform For Life and 6.2% for the Russian-aligned party Palchevskiy’s Victory. The poll was conducted among 2,025 respondents between June 20 and July 2 by the Western-sponsored Razumkov Center.