Matthias Schmale condemned the large-scale Russian assault on the capital Kyiv, in addition to Dnipro and Kharkiv, which marked the third time they’ve been struck in as many weeks.
“As an alternative of having fun with the beginning of the varsity summer season break, kids and their households spent the night time in underground shelters, woken up by air raid sirens, explosions and uncertainty,” he mentioned.
UN Secretary-Common António Guterres strongly condemned the assault, his Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric informed journalists in New York.
He reiterated the Secretary-Common’s pressing enchantment for fast de-escalation resulting in a full, fast and unconditional ceasefire.
Over 600 missiles and drones deployed
Whereas Kyiv and Dnipro have been among the many most closely affected cities, explosions have been additionally reported in a number of different areas together with Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Chernihiv and Poltava, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reported.
The mission cited the Ukraine Air Drive which mentioned that Russia launched 656 long-range drones and missiles within the huge in a single day assault, and though many of the weapons have been intercepted, 30 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and 33 long-range drones caught 38 areas.
Russian authorities issued a press release saying the bombardment was in response to a Ukrainian assault final week in Starobilsk, Luhansk area, which reportedly killed 21 civilians, it mentioned.
Moscow had just lately warned of “constant and systemic” strikes in opposition to targets in Kyiv.
Rescue operations underway
HMRRU groups visited websites within the metropolis and Dnipro, the place rescue operations have been ongoing amid stories that individuals have been nonetheless trapped underneath rubble.
“Although civilians took protecting measures and sought shelter, the assault killed at the least 22 civilians and injured 145, together with kids,” mentioned Danielle Bell, the HRMMU head.
“The loss of life, accidents, and harm to civilian infrastructure underscore the foreseeable human value of utilizing explosive weapons in populated areas.”
‘Mindless devastation’
An emergency employee in Kyiv was amongst these reportedly killed, HMRRU mentioned, which highlights the dangers these personnel face when aiding civilians following attacks.
The UN Youngsters’s Fund (UNICEF) expressed disappointment over stories {that a} three-year-old boy was killed in Dnipro and that 10 kids have been injured within the attacks across Ukraine.
“The brutal, mindless devastation of younger lives should finish,” the company tweeted.
Valeriia, 13, and her mom spent the night time in a basement throughout an enormous assault on Kyiv.
In another submit, UNICEF shared the testimony of Valeriia, a 13-year-old lady from Kyiv, who spent the night time in a basement alongside her mom.
“I assumed I wasn’t going to outlive,” she mentioned. “I utterly broke down and was in tears when the explosions grew to become so highly effective that they blew open the shelter door.”
Finish all attacks
Mr. Schmale famous that “the battle continues to take a devastating toll on civilians and their psychological well being, as they don’t have any respite, and concern and nervousness construct up amid the anticipation of the following attacks across the nation.”
He confused the necessity to uphold worldwide regulation to guard civilians and civilian infrastructure, together with houses and hospitals.
“The Russian Federation’s inflammatory rhetoric and escalation of attacks ought to cease, paving the best way for a simply peace,” he mentioned.
The UN monitoring mission mentioned the elevated use of long-range missiles and drones has been a serious driver of civilian casualties in Ukraine. Figures to date this yr are roughly 20 per cent increased than the identical interval in 2025, largely because of the elevated use of long-range weapons.
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