The head of Ukraine’s Center for Civil Liberties calls on the international community to hold Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to account

In a video message posted on her Twitter account, Oleksandra Matviichuk, whose group was last week awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, said there was “no military necessity” for the attack.

“I am in the centre of Kyiv near the children’s playground where a lot of children with their parents play every day,” she said.

“This children’s playground was hit by Russian rockets today.”

The playground is opposite her university.

She added: “There is no military necessity in hitting these objects. Russians did these things because they could.

“We ask the international community to recognise Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. We ask the international community to provide Ukraine with the modern air defence systems

“We ask to stop this circle of impunity and to create an international tribunal and hold Putin, Lukashenko and other war criminals accountable.”

I am standing next to the children playground which was hit by the Russian missile in the morning in Kyiv center. Putin, Lukashenko and other war criminals must be accountable. Help Ukraine to bring them to justice#StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/xBr8zjGgpz

— Oleksandra Matviichuk (@avalaina) October 10, 2022