Ukraine - Russia War: Ukrainian minister says Russia blocking access to medicines

 Ukraine’s health minister has accused Russian authorities of committing a crime against humanity by blocking access to affordable medicines in areas its forces have occupied since inving country 5 1/2 months ago.

In an interview with Associated Press, Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Liashko said Russian authorities repeatedly have blocked efforts to provide state-subsidized drugs to people in occupied cities , towns and vills.

“Throughout entire six months of war, Russia has t (allowed) proper humanitarian corridors so we could provide our own medicines to patients that need m,” Liashko said, speaking at Health Ministry in Kyiv late Friday.

“We believe that se actions are being taken with intent by Russia, and we consider m to be crimes against humanity and war crimes that will be documented and will be recognized,” minister said.

Ukrainian government has a program that provides medications to people with cancer and chronic health conditions. destruction of hospitals and infrastructure along with displacement of an estimated 7 million people inside country also have interfered with or forms of treatment, according to United Nations and Ukrainian officials.

war in Ukraine has caused severe disruptions to country’s state-run health service , which was undergoing major reforms, largely in response to coronavirus pandemic, when Russian President Vlimir Putin ordered his troops to inve on Feb. 24.

World Health Organization said it recorded 445 attacks on hospitals and or health care facilities as of Aug. 11 that directly resulted in 86 deaths and 105 injuries.

But Liashko said secondary effects were far more severe.

“When ros and bridges have been damd in areas w controlled by Ukrainian forces... it is difficult to get someone who h a heart attack or a stroke to hospital,” he said. “Sometimes, we can’t make it in time, ambulance can’t get re in time. That’s why war causes many more casualties (than those killed in fighting). It’s a number that cant be calculated.” ___ Full cover of war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine ___ Follow Gatopoulos at https://twitter.com/dgatopoulos and Arhirova at https://twitter.com/h_arhirova