Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Proof of Russian contempt for rules
Vladimir Putin’s commandos were seen at Pechenga, six miles from the Russian border with Norway, using the ambulances to conceal heavy weapons.
The training exercise also involved troops pouring out of one of the “Red Cross” vehicles to attack “enemy” forces.
Russia is a signatory to the Geneva Convention, which protects the wounded and sick during war.
Retired British Army Colonel Simon Diggins said: “War is bloody and it is awful. One of the few shreds of humanity and decency in war is the respect held for the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
“These symbols represent a chance for all parties to treat people with humanity and to misuse these
OPENLY boasting about practising how to use Red Cross ambulances in attacks blows apart any pretence by Russian commanders that they care about rules. In conflicts all over the world the rules of engagement change according to the situation, but for almost a century there has been a constant – medical facilities are out of bounds. Hospital and ambulances marked with the red cross cannot be targeted. Frequently, over the years the rule has been flouted by many armies, but the standard remains and is strictly observed by British and other NATO forces.
Just as they have done with their novichok attack in Salisbury and countless provable breaches in Syria, Russia is now revealing that flouting the rules is a policy.
This contemptuous and macho abandonment of the rules is so shocking that yesterday one senior British military veteran I spoke to was moved to tears of frustration and anger.
And it shows that Russian special forces, who will face no accountability for this latest breach, are able to operate with brutal impunity.