Civilian casualties are rising in Ukraine as Russian attacks intensify.<\/p>\n
Senior United Nations warned the Security Council that the fighting in Ukraine has intensified markedly over the past month, with increasing civilian casualties<\/b>, new attacks on urban infrastructure and widening humanitarian needs, while “there has been no significant diplomatic progress”.<\/b><\/p>\n
Briefing the Security Council meeting on the issue, Assistant Secretary General Halent Kiari<\/b> said that “we have seen an alarming escalation of hostilities<\/b>” and that “Russian attacks continue to intensify, with increasing civilian casualties and widespread destruction across Ukraine<\/b>“. As noted, although the 32-hour Truce at Easter, announced by the Russian Federation and accepted by Ukraine, was an initiative that could have provided respite for civilians, “this temporary cessation of fighting was not observed”.<\/p>\n
According to Kiari, three consecutive nights of airstrikes between 13 and 16 April hit many parts of the country<\/b>, with the attack on the night of 15-16 April being described as “the deadliest attack of the year to date”, targeting the Odessa, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Sumy and Kharkiv regions<\/b>. It said that residential apartment buildings were hit in Odessa and Dnipro, while “at least 20 people, including at least one child, were reportedly killed” across the country by this attack. He stressed that “the greatest concern is the ever-increasing loss of life among civilians”, citing figures from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which show that at least 211 civilians were killed and 1,206 wounded in the last month alone.<\/p>\n
Mr. Kiari also referred to continuing attacks on critical infrastructure<\/b>, including the Danube and Black Sea ports, which are vital for agricultural exports, as well as the railway network and cultural sites in Lviv, where “UNESCO World Heritage sites of inestimable historical and cultural value have been hit again”. He reiterated that “attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are clearly prohibited by international humanitarian law”<\/b> and stressed that “they must stop immediately, wherever they occur”.<\/p>\nContinued attacks<\/h3>\n
On the humanitarian situation, Assistant Secretary-General Joyce Mshuya<\/b> said “attacks have intensified and civilians continue to bear the brunt,” describing missile, unmanned and artillery strikes on residential areas, public transport, energy systems and port facilities.<\/p>\n
As he said,<\/b> “a massive wave of night attacks last week in Dnipro, Kiev and Odessa caused the death of more than 21 civilians and the injury of more than 140 people”,<\/b> while a separate strike on a public bus in Nicopolis left four dead and sixteen wounded.<\/p>\n
While humanitarian missions continue to reach communities near the front line in the areas of Mikolayiv and Kherson, Ms. Mshuya said access remains limited and needs exceed available resources. Of the 10.8 million people in need of humanitarian assistance this year, nearly three-quarters of the $2.3 billion funding plan remains unmet, leaving “nearly $1.7 billion still to be funded.”<\/b> She warned that “without timely and sustained funding contributions, humanitarian actors are forced to scale back assistance just as needs are rising.”<\/p>\n
In closing, Ms. Ms. Mshuya urged Council members to ensure respect for international humanitarian law, humanitarian access “in all areas of Ukraine, including those under the control of the Russian Federation”<\/b>, and timely funding, stressing that for millions of people “protection, access and timely financial contributions are a lifeline”. <\/p>\nTargeting civilians<\/h3>\n
The Permanent Representative of Greece to the UN, Ambassador St. Balta<\/b> in her statement reiterated the call on Russia to end its aggressive war against Ukraine, with full respect for international law, including the UN Charter, international humanitarian law and human rights law.<\/p>\n
He condemned in the strongest terms the deliberate targeting of civilians and critical civilian infrastructure as a serious violation of international humanitarian law.<\/b><\/p>\n
Mrs. Balta welcomed the recent visit of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict (SRSG\/CAAC) to Kiev and called on Russia to ensure the safe and unconditional return of Ukraine’s deported and forcibly transferred children.<\/p>\n
He called for a complete ceasefire as a necessary first step towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.<\/p>\n
He also stressed that no peace agreement can be viable without the full consent of Ukraine and the direct involvement of Europe, as well as without credible and enforceable security guarantees to prevent the resumption of war.<\/p>\n
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Civilian casualties are rising in Ukraine as Russian attacks intensify.
\nSenior United Nations officials have warned …<\/p>\n
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