A month after the original truce deal between Ukrainian forces and the pro-Russian Rebels, shots are still being fired across Eastern Ukraine. The Ukraine Crisis, sparked by the change of government and the annexation of Russia of Crimea, captured the world’s attention early this summer. Relations between Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels proceeded on a downward spiral culminating in events such as the Malaysian Airlines downing, Russian sanctions, and the recent death of a Swiss Red Cross worker.
On Thursday, October 2 an artillery shell landed near the international organization’s office in Donetsk, killing civilians including a Red Cross worker. Laurent DuPasquier, a 38-year-old Swiss national had only been in Ukraine for six weeks when the shell fell near his office. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) offices is located less than one kilometer from the State of Security Headquarters in Donetsk, which have been under rebel control since early April.
The ICRC has expressed its severe disapproval of the blind shelling and fire over residential areas which has caused increased civil casualties. In one recent event, approximately 10 civilians were killed when a shell hit a school playground in Donetsk. The deaths have been spread across both Rebels and Ukrainian forces. Since the September 5 ceasefire, the fighting has been limited to mainly the north of the city. This area, however, contains many residential areas causing a rise in civilian casualties. Approximately 3000 people have been killed since the fighting first broke out between the rebels and the Ukrainian forces.
Ukraine has pleaded for more assistance from the West in recent weeks. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had requested that US President Barack Obama provide greater support to combat the pro-Russian rebels. President Poroshenko visited the United States, addressing the Congress to provide military equipment to the Ukrainian forces, requesting both lethal and non-lethal provisions.
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