UN votes to suspend Russia from its Human Rights Council

Fox News State Department correspondent Benjamin Hall provided a health update following the horrific attack in Ukraine that left two colleagues dead. 

Hall was rescued from the war zone last month and flown to a hospital in Germany. He was later transferred to a premier military medical facility in Texas where he has undergone multiple surgeries. 

"To sum it up, I've lost half a leg on one side and a foot on the other. One hand is being put together, one eye is no longer working, and my hearing is pretty blown… but all in all I feel pretty damn lucky to be here - and it is the people who got me here who are amazing!" Hall tweeted Thursday evening, sharing an image of himself from the hospital. 

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A growing number of U.S. fire departments are sending protective gear to their fellow first responders in Ukraine.

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed more than 100 attacks on health services in Ukraine while it urged humanitarian access to Mariupol, Ukraine.

"The attacks so far have claimed 73 lives and injured 51," the WHO said in a statement. "Of the current total of 103 attacks, 89 have impacted health facilities and 13 have impacted transport, including ambulances."

“We are outraged that attacks on health care are continuing," said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who serves as WHO Director-General.

Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, who serves as WHO Regional Director for Europe, said, "It’s a truly sad irony that we are recording this milestone of over 100 attacks on health in Ukraine on World Health Day.”

“I have been personally struck by the resilience and fortitude of health care providers and indeed of the health system itself in Ukraine. WHO has been working to ensure supply lines remain open to allow lifesaving health and medical supplies to reach cities and towns nationwide, and continued attacks on health make this effort all the more challenging,” Kluge added.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, praised the General Assembly's vote to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council on Thursday as "an important and historic moment."

“Right now, the world is looking to us," Thomas-Greenfield said. "They are asking if the United Nations is prepared to meet this moment. They are wondering if we are a platform for propaganda and a safe haven for human rights abusers — or if we are prepared to live up to our highest ideals, enshrined in the UN Charter."

"Today, the international community took one collective step in the right direction. We ensured a persistent and egregious human rights violator will not be allowed to occupy a position of leadership on human rights at the UN."

"Let us continue to hold Russia accountable for this unprovoked, unjust, unconscionable war and to do everything in our power to stand with the people of Ukraine,” she added.

National Guard troops from Vermont, also known as the "Green Mountain Boys," will deploy to Europe early next month to bolster the security of NATO.

The Vermont National Guard includes the 158th Fighter Wing, which flies advanced F-35 fighter jets. It remains to be seen what units and how many of them are being deployed to Europe.

"In early May, members of the Vermont National Guard are scheduled to temporarily deploy to Europe under the European Command to enhance NATO’s collective defense and support the NATO Air Policing mission," a spokesperson for the group said.

"These regular deployments, part of a series of standard U.S. rotations in the European Area of Operations, are part of the U.S. commitment to training and interoperability with our European Allies."

"The National Guard is proud to continue to support our allies with ongoing missions. In the past 20 years the National Guard has constituted over 40% of all Army and Air deployments and we are proud to contribute to these current missions in Europe."

Undersecretary-General Martin Griffiths, the humanitarian chief for the United Nations, expressed pessimism regarding the ability of Ukraine and Russia to achieve a ceasefire after talks between Moscow and Kyiv placed the countries' differences in stark relief.

"I think it’s not going to be easy because the two sides, as I know now ... have very little trust in each other," Griffiths told The Associated Press. "I’m not optimistic," he later said.

Griffiths had been sent by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to both Moscow and Kyiv to discern the possibility of establishing an end to hostilities, but Griffiths maintained that such a goal remained distant.

“Obviously, we all want that to happen. But as you know — you’re here — that’s not going to happen immediately,” said Griffiths.

“This war is not stopping tomorrow,” he said. “Where we are a little bit closer is to get the understanding of both sides ... of what a local ceasefire would affect. There are many parts of Ukraine where we can achieve tomorrow local ceasefires, which are defined in geography and time.”

The United Nations General Assembly voted Thursday to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council following global outrage stemming from alleged atrocities recently committed by Russian troops in Bucha, Ukraine. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

As the U.S. moved Thursday to cut American exports to three Russian airlines and the U.N. General Assembly voted to suspend Russia from the United Nation's Human Rights Council, U.K. officials warned that Russian shelling in Ukraine was a prelude to a greater assault.

Britain's defense ministry says the country is targeting infrastructure to wear down Ukraine's government and military ahead of a renewed attack.

In an intelligence update on Thursday, the ministry said that "progressing offensive operations in eastern Ukraine is the main focus of Russian military forces."

For more on this story: Russian shelling during war precursor to eastern Ukraine assault, UK officials say

Olena Gnes joins 'The Faulkner Focus' to react to the atrocities in nearby Bucha.

A European official criticized the continent’s sanctions plan for Russia and urged his colleagues to do more ahead of a vote that supported "full" sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine. 

Member of European Parliament (MEP) Guy Verhofstadt on Wednesday slammed the governing body’s "ridiculous" approach, which he said "doesn’t work" due to the fact Russia is run by an autocrat and the people have "no real" opinion. 

"That works with a democracy, with democrats, who have a public opinion, a real public opinion," Verhofstadt said. "In Russia, there is no longer a real public opinion." 

He argued that the newest slate hits only a small amount of trade, such as coal, which he claimed only makes up 3% of Russian exports to Europe. He also took aim at attempts to cut off financial access, saying that "half the financial institutions are still outside the ban."

"All the rest will not work," he said. "All the rest will prolong the war." 

For more on this story: Fired up European official slams 'Ridiculous' Russian sanctions, urges different approach

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday said that for the first time the 30-member alliance will consider China in its defense strategy amid Beijing's refusal to condemn Russia’s war in Ukraine. 

"We have seen that China is unwilling to condemn Russia's aggression. And Beijing has joined Moscow in questioning the right of nations to choose their own path," Stoltenberg told reporters from NATO’s headquarters in Brussels.

"For the first time it must also take account of how China's growing influence and coercive policies affect our security," he added.

Stoltenberg said the 30-member alliance will announce its new "strategic concept" following the Madrid summit in June. 

For more on this story: NATO says for the first time it must include China's 'growing influence' in its defense strategy

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday that his country should be included in negotiations about ending the war in Ukraine.

“There can be no negotiations without the participation of Belarus,” Lukashenko said at a meeting Thursday of his national security council. “There can be no separate agreements behind the back of Belarus.”

Russia has launched missile attacks on Ukraine from Belarus and Russian troops invaded Ukraine from Belarus.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The United Nations General Assembly voted Thursday to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council following global outrage stemming from alleged atrocities recently committed by Russian troops in Bucha, Ukraine. 

A total of 93 members of the assembly voted in favor of the measure, while 24 were against and 58 abstained. Those who voted against the resolution included Russia's regional ally Belarus, China, North Korea, Iran and Syria. 

"Russia’s actions are beyond the pale," Ukraine's U.N. ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya said prior to the vote. "Russia is not only committing human rights violations, it is shaking the underpinnings of international peace and security."

Russia’s deputy ambassador Gennady Kuzmin asked members to vote "no."

"What we’re seeing today is an attempt by the United States to maintain its dominant position and total control," he said. "We reject the untruthful allegations against us, based on staged events and widely circulated fakes."

For more on this story: UN suspends Russia from Human Rights Council following alleged Bucha, Ukraine atrocities

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told western reporters Thursday they didn’t understand how the atrocities of Bucha have affected Ukrainians after a video emerged depicting a wounded Russian soldier being shot.

"I want to reassure you that [the] Ukrainian army observes the rules of warfare," he said noting that he had not seen the video but added it may have been an isolated incident that will be investigated.

"I want to double-check the date of this video because you should understand one thing – now you will not understand it, I'm sorry. But you don't understand how it feels after seeing pictures from Bucha," he said. "Talking to people who escaped, knowing that the person you know was raped for days. You don't understand how it feels that Russian soldiers rape children. 

"This is not an excuse to those who violate the rules of warfare on either side of the front line," he continued. "But there are some things which you simply can't understand. I’m sorry."

Kuleba’s comments followed questions by a reporter who asked for his reaction to a video posted to social media that depicted two apparent Russian soldiers lying in the road in a pool of blood. 

For more on this story: Ukraine minister says 'you don't understand' pain of Bucha as video shows shooting of wounded Russian soldier

China on Thursday accused U.S. and Taiwanese officials of "playing with fire" after comparisons between the Ukraine-Russia war have been levied against Beijing and Taipei. 

"There is a new wave of tensions across the Taiwan Strait," Chinese spokesman Wang Webin told reporters. "The root cause is that the authorities in Taiwan keep pushing the independence agenda by soliciting your support and that some in the U.S. attempt to use Taiwan to contain China. 

"They have been colluding with each other," he added. 

The spokesman’s comments come one day after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the Biden administration may be willing to slap sanctions on China should it consider invading Taiwan.

For more on this story: China accuses US, Taiwan officials of 'playing with fire' with Ukraine comparisons

The Ukrainian government on Thursday released what they claimed were intercepted radio recordings of a Russian commander instructing his soldiers to "take out" Ukrainian civilians in Mariupol. 

The Times of London reported Thursday about the obscenity-strewn recordings released by the Security Service of Ukraine. In one recording, an unidentified Russian soldier says he observed "two people coming out of the grove in civilian [clothing]." He also spotted a vehicle and states he cannot determine whether it’s a civilian vehicle or one operating by members of the Ukrainian military. 

"Take them all f***ing out!" a Russian commander shouts in response, according to the intercepted call. 

"Off them all, f***!" the superior shouted. The soldier accepts the command, saying, "Got it."

The recording was said to have come from a village outside of Mariupol, a city on the northeast coast of the Sea of Azov that’s suffered near constant Russian bombardment since March 1. 

For more on this story: Russian commander orders soldiers to 'take out' Ukrainian civilians near besieged Mariupol: report

A State Department source tells Fox News’ Tyler Kendall on Thursday that the U.S. and Poland will hold joint military exercises tomorrow near Rzeszow, about an hour away from Poland’s border with Ukraine. 

President Joe Biden had visited the city during his trip to Europe for a NATO summit in late March. 

“Tactical and fire training at the training ground in Nowa Dęba is to deepen the interoperability of Polish and American troops and to harmonize Polish military units,” the Polish military said in a statement previewing the military exercise. 

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Russia will “definitely respond, and will do it as it sees fit,” after President Vladimir Putin’s daughters were among those targeted with new U.S. sanctions. 

The U.S. on Wednesday has announced that it is sanctioning Putin’s two adult daughters as part of a new batch of penalties on the country’s political and economic systems in retaliation for its alleged war crimes in Ukraine. 

Peskov told a conference call with reporters that the sanctions “add to a completely frantic line of various restrictions” and the fact that the restrictions target family members “speaks for itself.” 

“This is something that is difficult to understand and explain. But, unfortunately, we have to deal with such opponents,” Peskov said. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Hundreds of dogs were recently found dead at an animal shelter in Borodyanka, Ukraine, according to Ukraine animal rights organization, UAnimals.

More than 300 dogs appeared to have starved to death, having been left locked in their cages and other enclosures without food or water, according to a Facebook post from UAnimals.

"A few days ago we were shocked by the terrible news — more than 300 dogs died in the Borodyanka animal shelter," a translation of the Facebook post said. 

"Volunteers who managed to reach the four-legged after the liberation of the village saved only a third of the shelter's residents, most of whom are now in critical condition for treatment."

For more on this story: 300 dogs found dead at Ukraine animal shelter, animal rights group says