MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Earlier on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that alleged Syrian opposition militants had shelled a Russian military hospital killing a combat medic and injuring two others in Aleppo. One of the injured later also succumbed to her wounds, according to the ministry.
"The Russian female military medic, who was seriously wounded as a result of an artillery attack on a Defense Ministry hospital's admission department in Aleppo by 'opposition' militants, has died of wounds,” Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said speaking about the second victim of the shelling.
"But serious wounds turned out to be fatal. Now medics are struggling for the life of their seriously wounded Russian colleague — a children's doctor," Konashenkov said adding that local residents, who came to the hospital, were also wounded.
The RT television channel's producer Somar Abudiab was also wounded by a shell fragment.
SYRIAN OPPOSITION RESPONSIBLE
Konashenkov pointed out that alleged Syrian opposition militants were responsible for the attack.
"Beyond any doubt, militants of the 'opposition' were the one firing. We understand, from whom the militants received accurate data and coordinates of the Russian hospital admission department," he said.
The military official pointed out that the responsibility for killing and wounding medics, who were providing aid to Aleppo children, lied not only on those, who opened fire.
Later he said that said those who shelled the Russian hospital in Aleppo and those who ordered the shelling must be held equally responsible.
Konashenkov also called on the international community to condemn the attack.
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY'S REACTION
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the attack, drawing attention to the lack of condemnation from the Western countries.
"On December 5, as a result of a direct hit of the mortar shell, launched by militants to the admission room of the Russian military mobile hospital deployed in Aleppo Russia's medical servicewoman was killed. Two healthcare workers suffered severe injuries and one of them died later in the day. Local citizens, who have come to visit doctors has also suffered. But we cannot hear condemnations of it from the western capitals," the statement said.
The statement added that Russia called on its partners to "throw away a politicized approach" and to join efforts in Moscow's anti-terror struggle in Syria.
FEDERATION COUNCIL'S REACTION
Speaker of the upper house of the Russian parliament Valentina Matvienko said that human rights organizations expressed deep concern about human rights violations in Syria but did not support their words with actions.
Member of the Federation Councils' Foreign Affairs Committee Igor Morozov said that the upper chamber was ready to call on members of foreign states' parliaments to condemn the intentional murders of Russian military medical personnel.
"If needed, if there is no reaction from the international community, the Federation Council will join [the Russian government] in the call to condemn this atrocity," Morozov said.
