Russian invaders are shelling cars that deliver oxygen to hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients who need oxygen support, said Health Minister Viktor Liashko, who added that one such vehicle was damaged.

"There are currently 5,700 patients with COVID-19 in hospitals in areas that we can control. Significant numbers of these people are in need of oxygen therapy, and this is one of our challenges to deliver liquid oxygen to where patients are. Unfortunately, Russian soldiers fired at the vehicles transporting liquid oxygen and one such car was damaged," he said on the air of a telethon aired on the ICTV channel on Thursday.

Liashko specified that according to data from medical institutions from which the Ministry of Health receives information, on Wednesday, March 9, some 6,700 new cases of COVID-19 were registered.