Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania

06/11/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/11/2025 04:34

Minister Budrys visited Kherson and Mykolaiv Oblasts

On 10 June, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kęstutis Budrys, together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, visited Kherson and Mykolaiv Oblasts, which have been severely affected by Russian aggression and are regularly attacked. Budrys is the first Foreign Minister to visit Kherson since February 2022.

Ministers met with the heads of the military administration in both Oblasts, inspected the damage caused by Russia, and inquired about the security situation, support needs, and possibilities for reconstruction of these regions. Lithuanian and Ukrainian Ministers visited a critical infrastructure facility in Kherson Oblast, a hospital and a school situated in an underground shelter. The heads of the military administration thanked Lithuania, which was one of the first countries to provide support with food products, generators, and other essential items for survival from the very first days of the aggression.

Kherson is located in southern Ukraine, on the right (north) bank of the Dnieper River, which has served as a topographical boundary separating the positions of Ukrainian and Russian forces. The city has been constantly targeted by Russian direct-fire attacks. The last such attack struck Kherson city center on 5 June.

"Russia's cruelty is beyond comprehension. All war crimes and crimes against humanity must be punished most severely. Impunity only encourages further killing. No mindless massacre of unarmed civilians should go unpunished," said Budrys.

According to Human Rights Watch, Russian forces used drones to attack civilians at least 45 times, which locals have dubbed "Human Safari". Videos of these and other attacks show that drone operators were well aware that they targeted civilians and demonstrated a coordinated intentional nature of such attacks.

From July 2024, Russian military drone pilots on the other side of the river systematically hunted civilians in various circumstances, as they stepped out to carry out their daily activities whether on foot or in any type of vehicle. Ambulances, which are protected under International Humanitarian Law, are also frequently subjected to attacks.

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has documented Russian armed forces' drone attacks against civilians in Kherson city and 16 localities in an area stretching over more than 100 kilometres along the right bank of the Dnipro River.

On 28 May this year, the UN Commission concluded that Russian armed forces' drone attacks against civilians in Kherson Province amounted to crimes against humanity of murder.

According to official sources, nearly 150 civilians have been killed and hundreds more injured as a result of the drone attacks. Russia captured the city of Kherson in March 2022 and kept it occupied until its liberation by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in November 2022.

Since their withdrawal, Russian forces have maintained their positions several kilometres south, on the left (south) bank of the Dnieper River, from where they recurrently carry out artillery attacks and airstrikes.

During the visit to Mykolaiv, Ministers honored the memory of the fallen defenders of Ukraine.

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