Russian forces blitzed a Red Cross building in Ukraine today - within 24 hours of peace-talks aimed at ending their bloody invasion.
The complex - clearly marked with the famous red cross and white background sign - was struck with artillery and targeted by warplanes.
It was the latest possible barbaric war crime committed by Moscow’s troops amid growing doubt about Kremlin peace negotiations.
The red cross building is in besieged port city Mariupol where officials warn a desperate humanitarian disaster is fast unfolding with thousands killed by Russia.
Ukrainian ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova said: “In Mariupol, the occupiers aimed at the building of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)."
She said that on Wednesday the building came under fire even though its roof is marked with an internationally recognised Red Cross symbol.
The symbol marks out that the structure holds wounded or ill people, or civilian or humanitarian cargo and is clearly visible from the air.
She added: “This is another war crime by the Russian Army in accordance with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and a gross violation of the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
“I call on the world community to condemn the barbaric actions of the occupying country in shelling the ICRC building and to take measures to end the bloody war on the territory of Ukraine as soon as possible.”
There is overwhelming evidence now of apartment buildings, residences, hospitals, cultural venues, and shopping malls destroyed by Russian bombs.
As many as 300 people have been slaughtered by Russian airstrikes and shooting in Irpin, near Kyiv before the town was snatched back by Ukraine this week.
Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn confirmed that he believed many bodies of victims still lie beneath the rubbled buildings.
It was revealed by Ukraine today that 145 children have now died from Russian attacks and 232 have been wounded.
Ukrainian forces have repeatedly counter-attacked Russian troops around the capital and in other cities throughout the country, driving them back.
Many observers and analysts believe Russian claims of a withdrawal from Kyiv and Chernihiv coincide with Moscow suffering huge losses.
A former western intelligence officer told the Daily Mirror: “This is not about the Kremlin seriously negotiating a peace deal with Ukraine.
“It is about Russia regrouping, consolidating, re-arming and forming new battle plans to try and bring Ukraine to its knees, whilst leaving it ruined.
“The Kremlin knows its forces have been hammered with losses of more than 17,000 and there is huge cynicism about their intentions to negotiate.”
London-based security sources added that their counterparts in the United States were also “highly doubtful” about Russian sincerity regarding peace.
Today a former Ukrainian national security adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky cast doubt on Russian pledges to stop attacking Kyiv and Chernihiv.
Moscow negotiators had suggested they will partially withdraw from the two cities as a gesture to gain trust from Ukrainian peace negotiators in Istanbul, Turkey.
But Kyiv suffered a massive cyber attack within hours and by morning Ukraine announced there was “no evidence” of a Russian withdrawal.
The capital’s Ministry of Defence reported a “massive” and “ongoing” cyber attack on its official website - with Russian hackers being prime suspects.
Oleksander Danylyuk said the sound of shelling this morning had confirmed his fears.
He added: ”This is just regrouping,” and he added that Russia is “not going to ease their grab” on Kyiv and Chernihiv – “this is just words.”
He continued: “As always there are military and diplomatic KGB games all combined, this is just one game.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky echoed fears that Moscow is not serious about de-escalating as peace talks continue.
He said: “Yes, we can call those signals that we hear at the negotiations positive. But those signals don’t silence the explosions of Russian shells.
“Of course we see the risks. Of course we don’t see any basis for trusting the words voiced by those or other representatives of the state that is continuing to fight for our destruction.”
Mayor of Ukrainian city Ivano Frankivsk Ruslan Martsynkiv, told the Daily Mirror: “I do not believe the Russians intend to stop this attack - not at all.
“Even if there was a peace deal negotiated, they will start the war again within a year, maybe even sooner. Nobody believes them and why should they, given what they are doing?”
Negotiations resumed this morning, five weeks into what has devolved into a bloody war of attrition, with thousands dead, almost four million Ukrainians fleeing the country and nearly ten million displaced.
UK Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has said UK sanctions against Russia will remain in place until the invasion of Ukraine is “withdrawn.”
He added: “The sanctions are there to tighten the grip on Putin’s war machine.”
