Geneva, The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has expressed shock and condemnation over the recent large-scale missile and drone attacks carried out by the Russian Federation across Ukraine. These attacks, which occurred overnight between 28th and 29th December, targeted multiple densely populated areas and crucial civilian infrastructure.
According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the assaults hit several cities and towns, including Kyiv, Lviv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, Sumy, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia. The damage extended to a broad range of civilian facilities, including residential buildings, a maternity hospital, schools, kindergartens, parks, a metro station, and a shopping mall, along with energy infrastructure. The attacks resulted in widespread electricity outages due to damage to transmission lines.
The human toll of these attacks is severe, with at least 23 civilians reported killed and 134 injured. Rescue operations are ongoing, with teams searching for individuals trapped under the rubble of destroyed residential buildings.
High Commissioner Türk emphasized that international humanitarian law explicitly prohibits attacks deliberately targeting civilian objects or indiscriminate attacks under any circumstances. He strongly urged the Russian Federation to immediately cease its attacks on Ukraine and to adhere strictly to all rules of international law relating to the conduct of hostilities. This call to action underscores the urgency of protecting civilian lives and maintaining adherence to international humanitarian standards amidst ongoing conflict.