Tbilisi: Civilian deaths in Ukraine require global attention

Georgia’s Foreign Ministry is "extremely concerned” by the shelling of civilian residential areas of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol from the separatist-controlled territories and is calling on the international community to adequately respond to the situation. 

"The rise in civilian casualties as a result of the recent attacks in the Ukrainian cities of Donetsk, Volnovakha and Mariupol is especially alarming, which further deteriorates the already extremely difficult situation in eastern Ukraine,” said the Ministry in a statement.

Figures released by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine stated at least 20 people had died and 75 were wounded as a result of the attack by Grad and Uragan rockets in Mariupol, which were fired from the areas controlled by Russia-backed separatists on January 24.

"We believe that deliberate use of destructive weaponry against civilian populated areas requires an immediate reaction from the international community and each of these cases should be promptly investigated,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry said.

"The Georgian Foreign Ministry expresses its solidarity towards the Ukrainian people and offers its sympathy to families of the victims.”