Lithuania protests to Russia over attacks on civilians in Ukraine

VILNIUS - Lithuania on Thursday lodged a formal protest with Russia over continued attacks on civilians in Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry said.

A representative of the Russian Embassy was summoned to the ministry and handed diplomatic notes regarding the continued mass use of missiles and combat drones against Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as repeated strikes on civilian vessels in the Black Sea.

Lithuania condemned the use of more than 40 ballistic and supersonic missiles in attacks on July 18-19 against targets in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, which damaged numerous residential buildings and other civilian sites.

The note also highlighted data from the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, which showed that Russia killed and injured the highest number of Ukrainian civilians in June since April 2022. The mission recorded at least 293 civilian deaths and 1,900 injuries.

Lithuania also strongly protested Russian attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea, specifically highlighting the July 19 strike on the Turkish cargo ship Golden Leo. The vessel, flying the Guinea-Bissau flag and carrying grain from Ukraine, had 10 sailors killed and eight other crew members injured.

Lithuania reiterated its demand that Russia immediately cease its aggression against Ukraine, withdraw its occupation forces from all internationally recognised Ukrainian territory and compensate for the damage inflicted on Ukraine.