Russian strike in Ukraine kills two French aid workers

"Russian barbarity has targeted civilians in Ukraine. Two French humanitarian workers paid for their commitment to the Ukrainians with their lives," Foreign Minister Stephane Séjourné wrote on X. "Russia will have to answer for its crimes."

French President Emmanuel Macron in a post on X called Thursday's killings a "cowardly and disgraceful act". "My support goes to all volunteers who engage in helping other nations," he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday voiced gratitude for their work in his war-torn country. "Russian terror knows no boundaries or victims' nationalities. The brave French aid workers assisted people and we will always be grateful for their humanity. My condolences go out to their loved ones," Zelensky wrote on social media.

"Foreign volunteers were killed and injured as a result of an enemy strike on Beryslav," Kherson region governor Oleksandr Prokudin wrote on Telegram earlier on Friday. Prokudin described them using a Ukrainian word that typically refers to workers from humanitarian organisations.

"The Russian army killed two French citizens. Three more foreigners received minor injuries," he added, offering his "sincere condolences to the families of the dead".

The Ukrainian national police earlier reported that two men of French nationality had died as a result of a drone attack and that four men and a woman had been injured.

One of the injured men was a 41-year-old from Odesa, they said.

"All victims came to Kherson region as volunteers," police said on Telegram, adding they were opening an investigation into the attack.

Beryslav, which sits on the Dnipro River close to the front line, has regularly been targeted by Russian drones and artillery.

On January 27, one person was killed there by an explosive launched by a Russian drone.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, Reuters)