MOSCOW, June 4 (RIA Novosti) - Russia’s children rights ombudsman Pavel Astakhov has asked the Red Cross to help the children living in war zones in Ukraine, according to a statement published on the ombudsman's Twitter page Wednesday.
"I sent an appeal to the International Red Cross and its Ukrainian branch. They have to help children in the combat zones. In the Rostov region [in southern Russia] we are working with refugees from the Donbas [eastern regions of Ukraine] and children evacuated from the areas of Ukrainian army’s shooting. Everyone needs help and protection," he wrote.
On Tuesday, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reported that seven children had been injured in fighting in eastern Ukraine since May 9. UNICEF noted an increasing impact of the crisis on children and urged all the parties to the conflict to stop violence.
At least eight kids have died in the armed clashes in Ukraine, according to Astakhov.
Starting from mid-April, Kiev authorities have been conducting a special military operation in the east of Ukraine to suppress the pro-independence movement. Moscow has repeatedly called on Kiev to stop the punitive operation, which has already claimed hundreds of lives.
