"We call for [an] objective investigation of Mariupol and Donetsk, and before that of Maidan and Odessa," Vitaly Churkin told the Security Council Monday, during an emergency meeting on Ukraine.
According to Churkin, beyond the January 24 rocket attack on Mariupol that killed at least 30 people and left over 90 injured many "cities in Southeast Ukraine are subjected for many days now to indiscriminate shelling from heavy weapons as a result of which there [are] hundreds of casualties".
Churkin stressed that Russia will continue to urge the two sides of the Ukrainian conflict (Kiev and the self-proclaimed people's republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, or DPR and LPR) to start a direct dialogue.
On Saturday, the Russian Mission to the United Nations said that the Security Council had failed to agree on a press statement, following the attack on Mariupol, because the United Kingdom "insisted on condemnation of some of the self-defense forces' statements".
Mariupol, located just outside the main conflict zone in the Donetsk region, was shelled on Saturday. DPR head Alexander Zakharchenko said that Kiev had gathered its forces near Mariupol, with militia's positions, having being constantly attacked with Grad missiles and artillery.
Kiev forces have recently intensified shelling in the southeastern region of Donetsk, having officially acknowledged that a major security operation was being carried out at the Donetsk airport.
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that the deteriorating situation in southeastern Ukraine is caused by Kiev's desire to forcibly suppress the people living in the region.
Kiev started military action in southeastern Ukraine in mid-April, 2014, in response to local residents' refusal to recognize the new government, which came to power as a result of a coup in February.
