“In recent weeks we have seen an increasing number of attacks affecting civilians and public infrastructure,” WHO Ukraine said in a message on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
The “brutal attack” in Lviv “killed at least 7 people, including children, and injured 47 others,” whileAccording to the agency, a healthcare institution was also affected.
Separately, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) noted on X that “indiscriminate attacks on children and their schools have marred the start of the new school year.”
Visit of the Humanitarian Coordinator
The attack in Lviv came a day after a rocket attack on a military academy and a nearby hospital in the At least 50 people have been killed and more than 270 injured in the central city of Poltava – one of the deadliest attacks since the full-scale Russian invasion began in February 2022.
Matthias Schmale, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, was in Poltava on Wednesday and saw the impact.
In a video posted on X, he said “massive” attacks have been taking place across Ukraine since Friday.
“These attacks have led to the destruction of civilian infrastructure, including many educational and health facilities, and that it is utterly despicable that civilian infrastructure is being destroyed“, he said.
Respect international humanitarian law
He also pointed to the human toll, as civilians were killed and seriously injured, expressing shock and outrage.
“No one should die. No one should be hurt,” he said. “And I reiterate the calls that the UN has made many times to respect international humanitarian law and do whatever it takes to keep citizens safe and to protect critical civilian infrastructure.”
Mr Schmale also said his thoughts were with the families of the victims of the attack in Poltava on Tuesday.
“Young people who went to the institution here were killed,” he said, adding that it is “extremely regrettable that young lives are taken from this planet far too early,” before expressing solidarity with the affected families across the country.
Nuclear safety efforts continue
In the meantime, a new report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) emphasizes efforts to ensure nuclear safety and security during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The report describes the challenges and achievements made in protecting the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and helping to prevent a nuclear accident since the launch of a mission there in September 2022.
Zaporizhzhya is located in southern Ukraine and is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. It is on the frontline of the conflict. It has been under Russian control since the early days of the large-scale invasion.
Precarious and very vulnerable
IAEA teams stationed there have reported incidents including shelling and drone attacks on the facility, and the facility has also suffered repeated power outages off-site.
In the foreword to the report, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi noted that the situation at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant remains precarious and highly vulnerable.
“Two years after the IAEA’s continued presence at the occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, our commitment to helping prevent a nuclear accident remains undiminished“, he said.
“Amid the significant challenges and risks to nuclear safety and security, we remain steadfast in our mission to assess the situation and keep the international community informed.”
Support for nuclear safety
The report was released as Mr Grossi travelled to the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant this week, his fifth time during the conflict. Since his last visit in February, the plant has been hit by drone attacks and power lines have been down, while a fire last month caused significant damage to one of its two cooling towers.
He said that “the objective and impartial assessments of the situation by our teams have made a significant contribution to maintaining nuclear safety, security and safeguards” at the plant.
The IAEA has experts stationed at the four other nuclear sites in Ukraine. The report also summarizes developments, activities and assistance at these sites since the missions were established there in early 2023.
Reassuring the international community
In total, the IAEA has conducted 139 Support and Assistance Missions to nuclear sites in Ukraine. In addition, the extended assistance to Ukraine has facilitated 61 deliveries of equipment to the country, with a total value of more than €10 million.
The agency also continued its essential verification activities for security measures across Ukraine, to ensure that nuclear materials are not used for military purposes.
“As I make my fifth visit to the ZNPP, and my tenth to Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict, I want to reassure the international community that the IAEA, and I as Director General, will continue to do everything possible within our mandate to help prevent a nuclear or radiological accident at any of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities,” Mr Grossi said.