07:06Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia accused Western countries of indulging in 'verbal gymnastics to protect Kiev' and 'media hype' - as he reiterated claims that Ukrainian air defences were to blame for the destruction of a children's hospital - during a Security Council meeting on Tuesday.
"Most likely they have seen the numerous analyses of what happened on video and photographs which clearly indicate that this was a Ukrainian air defence missile," he told members of the UNSC. "That's where the miracles of verbal gymnastics stem from which Western members of the Security Council demonstrated today in order to protect the Kiev regime."
He then read from 'Ukrainian Telegram channels' which he said had claimed that Kiev was ramping up coverage of the hospital to "distract from other hits" and "questions on why military facilities are neighbouring residential areas and hospitals".
"Everyone saw that it was an intercepted missile that fell [on the hospital]. That's a quote," he added. "[And it intended to] create a media hype in the western press ahead of the NATO summit. End of quote."
The UK, France, US and Ukraine accused Russia of hitting the hospital. The UK's Barbara Woodward called it 'cowardly depravity', while the US's Linda Thomas-Greenfield described it as chilling'. Ukraine's Sergiy Kyslytsya accused Russia of carrying out a 'war crime'.
Meanwhile, China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Geng Shuang called on both sides to "meet each other halfway and start peace talks at an early date".
According to Mayor of Kiev Vitali Klitschko, two people were killed and 16 were injured at the hospital. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported at least 31 killed and 150 injured in attacks across the country.
Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president's office, claimed that Russia had "purposefully attacked the children today".
Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Ministry strongly denied the allegations made, stating that it had conducted a "group strike by long-range precision weaponry" on military-industrial infrastructure and air bases, in response to Ukraine's own attacks on Russian infrastructure.
"Statements of the Kiev regime about the allegedly deliberate missile strike launched against civilian facilities by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are false," it continued.
"Numerous published photos and footage from Kiev clearly confirm that the destruction was caused by a Ukrainian air defence missile launched by an anti-aircraft missile system in the city."
The Ministry added that 'similar hysterics by the Kiev regime' had been happening for years, notably "every time on the eve of another meeting" of the NATO alliance. The 75th anniversary Summit of NATO begins in Washington DC on Tuesday.
'Verbal gymnastics to protect Kiev' - Nebenzia accuses West of 'media hype' ahead of NATO summit, denies Russian involvement in hospital destruction
Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia accused Western countries of indulging in 'verbal gymnastics to protect Kiev' and 'media hype' - as he reiterated claims that Ukrainian air defences were to blame for the destruction of a children's hospital - during a Security Council meeting on Tuesday.
"Most likely they have seen the numerous analyses of what happened on video and photographs which clearly indicate that this was a Ukrainian air defence missile," he told members of the UNSC. "That's where the miracles of verbal gymnastics stem from which Western members of the Security Council demonstrated today in order to protect the Kiev regime."
He then read from 'Ukrainian Telegram channels' which he said had claimed that Kiev was ramping up coverage of the hospital to "distract from other hits" and "questions on why military facilities are neighbouring residential areas and hospitals".
"Everyone saw that it was an intercepted missile that fell [on the hospital]. That's a quote," he added. "[And it intended to] create a media hype in the western press ahead of the NATO summit. End of quote."
The UK, France, US and Ukraine accused Russia of hitting the hospital. The UK's Barbara Woodward called it 'cowardly depravity', while the US's Linda Thomas-Greenfield described it as chilling'. Ukraine's Sergiy Kyslytsya accused Russia of carrying out a 'war crime'.
Meanwhile, China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Geng Shuang called on both sides to "meet each other halfway and start peace talks at an early date".
According to Mayor of Kiev Vitali Klitschko, two people were killed and 16 were injured at the hospital. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported at least 31 killed and 150 injured in attacks across the country.
Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president's office, claimed that Russia had "purposefully attacked the children today".
Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Ministry strongly denied the allegations made, stating that it had conducted a "group strike by long-range precision weaponry" on military-industrial infrastructure and air bases, in response to Ukraine's own attacks on Russian infrastructure.
"Statements of the Kiev regime about the allegedly deliberate missile strike launched against civilian facilities by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are false," it continued.
"Numerous published photos and footage from Kiev clearly confirm that the destruction was caused by a Ukrainian air defence missile launched by an anti-aircraft missile system in the city."
The Ministry added that 'similar hysterics by the Kiev regime' had been happening for years, notably "every time on the eve of another meeting" of the NATO alliance. The 75th anniversary Summit of NATO begins in Washington DC on Tuesday.
Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia accused Western countries of indulging in 'verbal gymnastics to protect Kiev' and 'media hype' - as he reiterated claims that Ukrainian air defences were to blame for the destruction of a children's hospital - during a Security Council meeting on Tuesday.
"Most likely they have seen the numerous analyses of what happened on video and photographs which clearly indicate that this was a Ukrainian air defence missile," he told members of the UNSC. "That's where the miracles of verbal gymnastics stem from which Western members of the Security Council demonstrated today in order to protect the Kiev regime."
He then read from 'Ukrainian Telegram channels' which he said had claimed that Kiev was ramping up coverage of the hospital to "distract from other hits" and "questions on why military facilities are neighbouring residential areas and hospitals".
"Everyone saw that it was an intercepted missile that fell [on the hospital]. That's a quote," he added. "[And it intended to] create a media hype in the western press ahead of the NATO summit. End of quote."
The UK, France, US and Ukraine accused Russia of hitting the hospital. The UK's Barbara Woodward called it 'cowardly depravity', while the US's Linda Thomas-Greenfield described it as chilling'. Ukraine's Sergiy Kyslytsya accused Russia of carrying out a 'war crime'.
Meanwhile, China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Geng Shuang called on both sides to "meet each other halfway and start peace talks at an early date".
According to Mayor of Kiev Vitali Klitschko, two people were killed and 16 were injured at the hospital. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported at least 31 killed and 150 injured in attacks across the country.
Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president's office, claimed that Russia had "purposefully attacked the children today".
Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Ministry strongly denied the allegations made, stating that it had conducted a "group strike by long-range precision weaponry" on military-industrial infrastructure and air bases, in response to Ukraine's own attacks on Russian infrastructure.
"Statements of the Kiev regime about the allegedly deliberate missile strike launched against civilian facilities by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are false," it continued.
"Numerous published photos and footage from Kiev clearly confirm that the destruction was caused by a Ukrainian air defence missile launched by an anti-aircraft missile system in the city."
The Ministry added that 'similar hysterics by the Kiev regime' had been happening for years, notably "every time on the eve of another meeting" of the NATO alliance. The 75th anniversary Summit of NATO begins in Washington DC on Tuesday.