According to the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon "is deeply disturbed at the renewed escalation in fighting in eastern Ukraine and condemns the shelling yesterday of a bus in Donetsk."
Calling for accountability, the UN Secretary General said on Wednesday that "the incident, which must be investigated and those responsible brought to justice, is a stark reminder of the urgent need to halt the violence that has already claimed over 4,800 lives, displaced over one million and continues to cause needless harm and suffering to countless civilians."
Ban also noted the "ongoing diplomatic efforts of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany" to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The UN Secretary General called on all sides of the conflict "to respect the cease-fire and return to the implementation of the Minsk agreements, which remain a solid base for resolving the conflict."
On Tuesday, the Ukrainian military said that a passenger bus was shelled near the town of Volnovakha in the Donetsk region. The incident claimed 12 lives and left another 18 people wounded. The authorities of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) have denied any involvement in the attack.
Late on Tuesday, the 15 members of the UN Security Council unanimously agreed to and issued a press statement condemning the bus attack and underlined the need for strict observation of the Minsk protocol.
