The Russians insidiously fire at the rescuers, ignoring international conventions. During the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, 78 rescuers died as a result of enemy shelling, and 280 were injured.
This was stated by the representative of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Colonel Oleksandr Khorunzhy: “Since the beginning of the large-scale invasion, due to shelling by the Russians, 78 employees of the State Emergency Service were killed and 280 were injured during the liquidation of the consequences of rocket attacks. At the same time, I would like to emphasize that rescuers do not conduct combat operations, but go to rescue people, analysis of rubble, therefore they are protected by international conventions.”
As Khorunzhiy recalled, during the repeated shelling on August 7 in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, “seven rescuers of the State Emergency Service were injured and the deputy head of the State Emergency Service Department of Ukraine in the Donetsk region, Andriy Omelchenko, was killed. This is an irreparable loss for us, we offer our condolences to family and friends,” he said.
As Khorunzhy noted, recently the Russians increasingly use the practice of firing on rescuers during the liquidation of the consequences of shelling or missile strikes. And they also use the practice of attacks on fire and rescue units. According to him, repeated shelling aimed at harming rescuers is mostly observed in Kherson region, Donetsk region and Kharkiv region.
“We note that when the State Emergency Service arrives to eliminate the consequences of shelling, the Russians launch repeated strikes. We cannot stay away, this is our job. But these shellings are some incomprehensible terrorist method for us,” said a representative of the State Emergency Service.