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Military operation in Ukraine

China warns against groundless allegations over Kramatorsk attack until probe finishes

When asked if China believed that Russia was involved in the incident, he said that Beijing "supports an impartial, independent and transparent investigation into the situation"

© Andrea Carrubba/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

BEIJING, April 11. /TASS/. Beijing is urging all parties to stay calm and avoid groundless accusations until an investigation into Friday’s missile attack on a railway station in the Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk is wrapped up, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a briefing on Monday.

"As for the reports of an attack on the railway station that you mentioned, the truth and the causes should certainly be established. However, we believe that humanitarian issues should not be politicized and all accusations should be based on facts," he pointed out. "The parties should avoid groundless accusations and stay calm until the investigation presents its conclusions," the diplomat maintained.

Zhao Lijian also noted that China was paying much attention to the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and was concerned about the damage that was being done to civilians. When asked if China believed that Russia was involved in the incident, he said that Beijing "supports an impartial, independent and transparent investigation into the situation."

On April 8, at least 50 people were killed and about 100 suffered wounds in a missile attack on a railway station in Kramatrosk currently controlled by Ukrainian forces. Following the missile strike, Kiev rushed to pin the blame on Moscow. The Russian Defense Ministry, however, countered Kiev’s claims, emphasizing that Russian troops had not conducted any combat missions in Kramatorsk on April 8. In addition, the ministry stressed that projectile fragments that had been found near the Kramatorsk railway station belong to Tochka-U tactical missiles that are used only by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the deadly attack was carried out by a Ukrainian missile battalion near the Ukrainian held-town of Dobropolye located 45 kilometers southwest of Kramatorsk.

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