2024-04-10 19:33:19
UN monitors have recorded a sudden rise in the number of civilian casualties in Ukraine over the past month amid increased attacks by Russian forces, Reuters reported, citing the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. At least 57 children were killed or injured in March, twice as many as in February, the specialized international agency said.
In March, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine confirmed at least 604 civilians killed or injured in Ukraine, which is 20 percent more than those recorded in February, Reuters said.
The increase in the number of civilian casualties in March was mainly due to attacks by Russian armed forces using missiles and kamikaze drones across Ukraine and intensified aerial bombardment near the front lines, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said , BTA reported.
The mission found that most civilian casualties – 93.5 percent – and most damage to education and health facilities and critical infrastructure occurred in government-controlled areas.
Ukraine has suffered particularly heavy attacks in the past month, and President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the country could run out of air defense missiles if Russia continues its intense campaign of long-range bombing.
Last week, Zelensky said that in March alone, Russia launched more than 3,000 guided aerial bombs, 600 drones and 400 missiles against Ukraine.