| Volnovakha bus attack | |
|---|---|
| Part of theWar in Donbas | |
.svg) Location of Donetsk Oblast in Ukraine | |
  Buhas checkpoint Buhas checkpoint (Donetsk Oblast) | |
| Location | Donetsk–Mariupol road ( H 20) atBuhas, nearVolnovakhaDonetsk Oblast, Ukraine[1] |
| Coordinates | 47°36′45.4″N37°31′45.5″E / 47.612611°N 37.529306°E /47.612611; 37.529306 |
| Date | 13 January 2015 c. 14:30EET (UTC+2) |
| Target | Buhas checkpoint |
Attack type | Rocket strike |
| Weapons | MRLBM-21 Grad |
| Deaths | 12[2] |
| Injured | 18[2] |
| Perpetrators | Donetsk People's Republic (per Ukraine) Ukrainian Armed Forces (per Russia) |
| Motive | Attack on fortified facilities |
TheVolnovakha bus attack was an attack on a highwaycheckpoint near the village ofBuhas outside of theVolnovakha municipality in theDonetsk Oblast, Ukraine on 13 January 2015. It resulted in the deaths of 12 passengers of an intercity bus and injuries to 18 others in the area. The attack was the largest single loss of life since the signing of theMinsk Protocol in September 2014, which attempted to halt theWar in Donbas. The incident has been labeled an "act of terror" by both the Ukrainian authorities[3] as well as the rebels.[4]
Initially,separatists took responsibility for this incident, which they thought was a successful destruction of the Ukrainianroadblock. After the information about civilian bus hit the news, they denied having "even technical possibilities" to shell that area.[5]OSCE Special Monitoring Mission inspecting the place of incident assessed from its study of five craters that they were caused by "rockets fired from a north-north-eastern direction".[6]HRW investigation has concluded that "The attacked checkpoint is the northern-most government checkpoint before the front line with rebel forces. The tube-like shape of the craters clearly indicated that the rockets had come from the northeast."[7]
The checkpoint named "Buhas" is located on theH20 highway at the intersection with another road accessing the city of Volnovakha. Beside Buhas and Volnovakha, there also is a village of Blyzhnie.
On 13 January, a bus was carrying civilians moving northward toDonetsk from the village of Zlatoustivka (Zlatoustovka) and passing a small city ofVolnovakha[10] on the Donetsk-Mariupol road (H20 highway). Approaching the zone controlled by theDonetsk People's Republic, the bus stopped at the checkpoint for passport control. Soon thereafter the checkpoint was fired upon, with multiple rockets landing next to the line of vehicles, including the bus. Shrapnel from a round tore through and completely disabled the bus, while killing and injuring several passengers. Ten people perished on site, while two more died soon after being brought to the hospital in Volnovakha.[2]
TheUkrainian government's official version states that pro-Russian militants tried to shell positions near the Buhas checkpoint, which is 35 kilometres (22 mi) from the city ofDonetsk. Donetsk Prosecutor's Office reported that militants fired more than 40 shells at the highway despite knowing the fact that it had been used only by civilians.[11] An official of the Donetsk Oblast Interior Ministry said, "It was a direct hit on an intercity bus".[12]
According to the head of the main command center of theArmed Forces of Ukraine, Bohdan Bondar, the attack was launched from the center ofDokuchaievsk (city surrounded by theVolnovakha Raion), which is less than 35 kilometres (22 mi) away, as a provocation. When the attack happened, "there were reporters of local and Russian TV channels… who came there to film how our troops would return fire on the center of the city". The Ukrainian military labelled the incident a "provocation." Despite this, Ukrainian forces did not return fire.[13]
TheDonetsk People's Republic denied any involvement and said that the attack might have been staged byUkrainian Army. Andrei Purgin, aDonetsk Republic party politician, said that "We don't have the capability to shell this checkpoint either from the side ofTelmanove or Yelenivka. The Ukrainian side has to figure out what has happened deep in its territory. It's very far from the contact line".Denis Pushilin, another DPR leader, said that nearest rebel artillery was 50 km away, too far to reach the attack site. At the same time,NewsFront published a video of some militant leader[clarification needed] boasting about a successful attack onHranitne fromTelmanove.[14] The attack on Hranitne resulted in death of a 2-year-old child.[15][16]
An OSCE report confirmed that aGrad rocket from north-northeast[6] had struck the bus, and said thatDPR forces, theRussian Armed Forces, and theUkrainian Armed Forces would conduct a joint investigation into the incident.[17] Ukrainian presidentPetro Poroshenko blamed the attack on separatist insurgents, and declared a day of national mourning.[18]
On 17 January 2017 Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs filed a suit with theInternational Court of Justice, accusing the Russian Federation of "acts of terrorism, discrimination, and unlawful aggression" against Ukraine. The attack on Volnovakha was cited by Ukraine as an example of Russia supporting illegal armed groups engaged in terrorist activities.[19]
Ukraine – President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said the attack "chilled the heart", and blamed rebel forces for the attack. He said "These deaths are on the conscience of theDPR andLPR gangs and on those who stand behind them". He compared theCharlie Hebdo shooting with events in Volnovakha and called the world to unite in the fight against terrorism.[20] Additionally, he posted on Facebook an image of a bullet-riddled bus above the caption "je suis Volnovakha" while others carried signs in peaceful protest.[21][22] At the same timeMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine made a statement stressing that the tragedy couldn't have been a coincidence, but was intentionally committed by the terrorist groups supported bythe Russian Federation, and called the world to resolutely condemn this terrible terrorist act as well as all their crimes against humanity.[23] Prime Minister of UkraineArseniy Yatsenyuk and the head of theUkrainian Orthodox Church - Kyiv PatriarchatePatriarch Filaret in their statements called the international community to recogniseDPR andLPR asterrorist organizations.[24][25] After thatVerkhovna Rada asked for the same.[26] January 15 was declared asthe Day of Mourning for the people murdered by terrorists.[27] State officials paid a tribute to the perished by a minute of silence.[28] On Sunday January 18, hundreds peacefully marched inOdesa and in Kyiv nearIndependence Square carryingJe Suis Volnovakha andЯ Волноваха placards.[29][30][31][32][33]
European Union –European External Action Service made a statement, in which expressed condolences to the families of those who died. They underlined the need for strict observation ofthe ceasefire. "A lasting ceasefire remains key to the success of the current efforts to reach a sustainable political solution, based on respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity".[34] On January 15Members ofthe European Parliament strongly condemned Russia's "aggressive and expansionist policy" and "the acts of terrorism and criminal behaviour committed bythe separatists and other irregular forces in Eastern Ukraine". They supported the policy of sanctions, which should stay in place until Russia changes its aggressive policy in Ukraine, respects the ceasefire, withdraws its troops, stops supporting separatists, exchanges all prisoners and restores Ukraine's control over its whole territory, includingCrimea, and called to broaden the range of sanctions in the event of further Russian actions destabilising Ukraine. The European Parliament noted that sincethe Council lifted the arms embargo on Ukraine on 16 July, there are "no objections" to EU countries supplying defensive arms to Ukraine, and suggested that the EU consider helping Ukraine to enhance its defence capabilities. Also they askedthe Commission to develop a communication strategy to counter the Russian propaganda campaign, paying attention to its "information war", the EU to deliver "more substantial technical assistance" to help Ukraine to implement reforms and to do more to help tackle its humanitarian crisis, including Crimea.[35]
Russia –Russian Foreign Ministry's envoy for human rights, democracy and the supremacy of lawKonstantin Dolgov said that shelling of a passenger bus in eastern Ukraine undermines efforts to reach a peace settlement of theRusso-Ukrainian war. "Kyiv continues to blatantly violate human rights", he underlined. Moscow "demands an impartial investigation of this crime... and punishment of those responsible".[36] The Russian officials offered their condolences to the families and friends of the victims.[37]
Belarus –Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed their deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims. "This tragic incident once again proves the need for an immediate ceasefire as provided bythe Minsk arrangements. We are calling for immediate resuming the work of the Trilateral Contact Group to make urgent decisions in order to resolve the situation in the region and prevent new victims on the territory of our brotherly nation", The Ministry stated.[38]
website. Kyiv 17 January 2015.