Statement by the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (KVPU), a member organization
of the International Trade Union Confederation and the European Trade Union
Confederation, calls on the international community, the ITUC, the ETUC, and their
member organizations, as well as the governments of democratic states, to strengthen
their support for Ukraine. This appeal comes as Russia continues its terrorist attacks and
genocidal war in Ukraine.
Today, July 8,2024, the Russian troops launched massive combined attacks throughout the
night, morning, and day on several cities in Ukraine, including Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih,
Slov’yansk, Kramatorsk, and Pokrovsk. During these attacks, Russia fired 40 missiles of various
types, aiming to kill as many civilians as possible and intimidate the Ukrainian people who are
fighting for freedom and democracy.
Russian forces targeted the attack on Monday morning when workers were commuting to
their workplaces when they were at work meetings, and while patients were either heading to
medical facilities or receiving treatment.
Only in Kyiv, 17 people were killed, and at least 41 were injured as a result of the July
8 attack.
Today, during a Russian combined rocket attack in Kyiv, the city’s oldest and the main
children’s hospital ‘Okhmatdyt,’ where seriously ill children from across Ukraine were being
treated, came under attack. As a result of the strike on the hospital, there are casualties, and
there may still be children, parents, and medical personnel trapped under the rubble, which is
currently being cleared. This hospital was visited by the ITUC Mission on May 16, 2024, wen
global unions leaders had an opportunity to meet with hospital management, trade union
members and parents of children injured during the Russian attacks.
On the same day, additionally, another medical facility in the Dnipro district of Kyiv was
damaged during a missile attack at noon. Previously, four people were killed. Debris clearance
and search operations are still ongoing.
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As reported the National Police of Ukraine at the noon on 9 July, the number of people
killed in Ukraine as a result of a Russian missile attack on Monday, July 8, reached 42 people.
Among the killed were four children.
As a result of an attack by the Russian military on the “Okhmatdyt” hospital in Kyiv, two
adults were killed: a doctor and a visitor to the medical facility. Another 30 were injured, including
10 children.
In addition, over the past day, 190 people were injured and 323 objects were damaged due
to the massive selling of the Russian Federation.
On July 8, Russia launched a massive missile attack on Kryvyi Rih and the Dnipro.
In particular, a Russian missile hit the administrative building of the Northern Mining and
Processing Plant in Kryvyi Rih. As of 12:30 p.m., 10 people were killed and more than 30 injured.
On July 8, three more civilians were killed due to a rocket attack by Russian troops
on the city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk region. As a result of the attack, the office of the local
organization of the Independent Trade Union of Mineworkers of Ukraine in the city of Myrnograd
and Pokrovsky district was damaged.
On 8 July, as a result of the missiles attack on Ukraine, in addition to workplaces and
hospitals, residential buildings and transport infrastructure were damaged.
On 9 July, around 4:30 a.m. the Russian Armed Forces fired missiles at the mining
town of Myrnograd in Donetsk Oblast. As a result, the administrative buildings and warehouses
of the Kapitalna and 5/6 mines, where the primary trade unions of the NPGU operate, were
destroyed. Miraculously, there were no casualties. However, one of the offices of the Independent
Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine at the enterprise was damaged. Throughout the day, a total
of 4 people were killed as a result of shelling in the Donetsk region.
We emphasize that the Russian forces carry out drone and missile attacks on
Ukrainian cities every day.
Russia continues to purposefully target energy facilities to deprive Ukrainian civilians of
electricity, communications, and medical services, and to halt Ukraine’s economy. Currently, in
Ukraine all thermal power plants have already been destroyed, and hydroelectric power stations
have been damaged by Russian forces. As a result, Ukraine is experiencing permanent power
outages.
Today, Russia once again cynically violated international humanitarian law, further
confirming its goal to destroy Ukraine and its brave people.
Today, Ukrainian workers, trade unionists, and the entire population of Ukraine resist the
Russian aggressor and fight for the liberation of the occupied territories, where terror reigns and
human rights are not guaranteed. Today, we appeal to the international democratic community
with a call:
● Continue to provide economic, humanitarian, and aid to Ukraine;
● Support the provision of military aid to Ukraine to protect the population, energy
infrastructure, workplaces, and the country;
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● Strengthen sanctions against the terrorist regime of Russia and those who support and
finance it, as this can significantly limit the financial resources and export of technologies
necessary for the continuation of the bloody war;
● Ensure the possibility of using frozen Russian assets to direct them to help Ukraine;
● Isolate and remove from positions in international organizations Russian political, public,
and trade union figures, as representatives of a country that carries out terrorist activities against
sovereign, independent Ukraine and its citizens, and who are trying to undermine the unity of the
international democratic trade union movement.
Annex 1 – photos of aftermath of Russian attacks on Ukraine on 8 July, 2024 from official
resources
In Solidarity,
Mykhilo Volynets,
Chairperson of the Independent Trade Unions of Miners of Ukraine

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