On Wednesday, the World Health Organization assembly condemned Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian healthcare facilities.
The motion passed 80-9, with 52 abstentions and 36 countries absent.
The Western-led motion called for a health sector review of Russia’s aggression at the U.N. agency’s annual meeting.
Russia presented a counter-proposal acknowledging the health emergency in Ukraine but not its role in the war, but it did not respond immediately.
After the first, the assembly rejected that move 62–13, with 61 abstentions and 41 countries absent.
Pre-twin vote tensions were high. As a result, Moscow’s envoy stopped critical speeches.
Britain’s envoy Simon Manley accused Russia of spreading “disinformation” to the assembly, and a Russian official said it had distributed booklets blaming Ukrainian forces for targeting medical facilities in its-controlled areas.
Moscow has repeatedly denied targeting civilians in its “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Last year’s assembly likewise presented two motions, with the Western-led resolution passing 88 votes to 12. Like this year’s voting, absenteeism was high.
