Title: UN Condemns Escalating Civilian Casualties After Latest Russian Attacks Across Ukraine
Recent Russian airstrikes have caused widespread destruction in Kyiv and several other Ukrainian cities, resulting in significant civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. According to reports, 12 buildings were struck in the capital alone, affecting homes, businesses, and essential public services. Amid the debris, phones were reportedly still ringing – a haunting reminder of lives lost or trapped beneath the rubble.
The attacks extended to multiple cities, including Zhytomyr, west of Kyiv, and the northeastern cities of Sumy and Kharkiv. In Sumy, a daytime missile strike on April 13 claimed the lives of at least 34 people. Kharkiv officials reported a total of 24 drone and missile strikes.
“The number of casualties is expected to rise as emergency teams continue their search-and-rescue operations,” stated the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
These strikes come shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly rejected a U.S.-led peace plan proposal that would have required Ukraine to concede territory currently controlled by Russia. This includes the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, as well as Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
Matthias Schmale, the UN’s top humanitarian official in Ukraine, condemned the recent onslaught. “Last night’s large-scale attack by the armed forces of the Russian Federation on residential areas in Kyiv and surrounding regions is yet another appalling violation of international humanitarian law,” he said.
Over 70 people were injured in the strikes, including children and a pregnant woman. “This senseless use of force must stop. Civilians must never be targets,” Schmale emphasized.
Mounting Civilian Toll
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) echoed calls for an end to the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported a sharp rise in civilian casualties: 164 civilians were killed and 910 injured across Ukraine in March 2025. This marks a 50% increase in fatalities and a notable jump from 588 injuries in February, and a 71% increase compared to March 2024.
On April 23-24, OCHA documented additional drone and glide bomb attacks on densely populated areas throughout Ukraine, further intensifying the humanitarian crisis.
In Zaporizhzhia, a front-line city housing over 630,000 residents—many displaced from other areas—a glide bomb strike on April 23 killed one person and injured more than 40, including seven children and a pregnant woman. Several apartment buildings sustained major damage.
Simultaneously, overnight drone attacks on April 24 struck the regions of Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Poltava, and Odesa. The strikes damaged a hospital, residential buildings, warehouses, and an energy facility, compounding the already dire challenges faced by civilians and emergency personnel.
As the violence escalates, the UN and humanitarian organizations continue to urge all parties to respect international humanitarian law and prioritize the protection of civilians.
Leave a Reply