Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has slammed the Western countries and their media for turning a blind eye to deaths of hundreds of children in the Donbass Region as well as in Gaza.
Speaking on the third day of St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Zakharova highlighted that western media didn't want to make the killings of children in Donbass due to the Kiev regime's actions since 2014 as a "topic of discussion" in their coverage of Ukraine conflict.
"Let me remind you how it was, for example, in Syria, when the story of a single deceased child became a subject of global forums organised by the West. The photograph of one specific boy was displayed behind the backs of NATO leaders. The story of one child could even influence the adoption of bills, decisions, and declarations at major Western forums," the Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said, pointing to western double standards on children deaths.
The Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) marked the 'Remembrance of the Children Victims of the War in Donbass' in memory of 200 children killed by Ukrainian forces in the region since 2014. Reports suggest that the death toll has got worse since then.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, nearly 26,000 children have been killed or injured since Israel Defence Forces (IDF) launched its military operation following the 7 October attack by Hamas.