Ukraine: Dozens killed in rebel attack on civilian convoy

(Vatican Radio) Ukraine's government accuses pro-Russia separatists of killing dozens of civilians in an attack early Monday on a convoy of civilians fleeing a besieged rebel-held city in the country's east.

Listen to Stefan Bos' report:

Ukraine military said they recovered at least 15 bodies from the smoldering vehicles, and servicemen were collecting body parts of at least 10 more people following Monday's attack on civilians near Luhansk.  

A spokesman of Ukraine’s National Security Council, Andriy Lysenko, said pro-Russia separatists attacking a convoy that carried Luhansk refugees, including those whose lives had just begun. 

“Not far from Luhansk, on the road between Khryashchuvatye and Novosvitlivka, a column of civilians trying to escape was hit from multiple GRAD missile launchers handed to the bandits by the Russian Federation,” he told reporters. “A lot of people died, including women and children.” 

REBELS DENIAL

The rebels leadership denied involvement in the alleged incident and blamed Ukraine's army for the deaths. The United States condemned the attack, but said it was unable to confirm who was responsible. Monday's bloodshed came amid international concerns about a major humanitarian crisis in the area.

Residents of Luhansk have had no running water, electrical power or phone connections for 16 days. Witnesses say basic food is in short supply, leading to long lines outside shops as fighting continues in and around the city.

In Donetsk, the largest city in rebel hands, several houses were hit by artillery fire over the weekend. Reporters saw how a fire destroyed a cramped, one-story home of a 79-year old mother and her paralyzed 56-year-old daughter. They were among many unable to flee. 

Local officials say however that Donetsk has seen at least 300,000 of its pre-war population of 1 million leave their homes, while Luhansk has only 250,000 of its 420,000 people remaining. 

Yet reaching those who stay behind is difficult: Hundreds of Russian trucks carrying humanitarian aid remain stuck near Ukraine's border, with the Red Cross awaiting security guarantees from all sides.