Mr Türk said these “ruthless” attacks were exacerbating the country’s humanitarian crisis, tearing apart infrastructure and creating a range of socio-economic challenges.
Between March and May, 436 civilians were killed and 1,760 wounded, High Commissioner Türk said.
“These high civilian deaths are largely the result of the ground and air strikes, including powerful aerial bombs, that have taken place in the Kharkiv region,” the human rights commissioner said.
“Such attacks must stop immediately.”
An attack on energy
The head of OHCHR said Russian forces targeted electricity generation and distribution systems, limiting Ukraine’s electricity capacity.
Millions of citizens have suffered power outages, often for hours, reducing access to water, internet and public transport, he said, affecting jobs, tax revenues and weakening social protection.
“But the worst may yet be to come“, Mr Türk said, “while energy companies and Ukrainian authorities warn that repeated strikes have reduced the ability to carry out necessary repairs to heat homes in winter.”
Russian citizenship
Mr Türk said the OHCHR has documented increasing pressure to obtain Russian passports in the occupied territories of Ukraine.
Without Russian citizenship, many elderly people reportedly face problems accessing health care, and parents struggle to send their children to school without a Russian passport.
According to the Human Rights Commissioner, this is a violation of international humanitarian law.
Call for a ceasefire
The High Commissioner for Human Rights said the escalation of the war in Ukraine “cannot become the new standard.”
Mr Türk calls on the Russian Federation to immediately stop the use of force against Ukraine and to withdraw troops from the occupied territories in the country.
He also calls on the federation to end the use of long-range explosive weapons in populated areas.
“War is the worst enemy of human rights“, he said. “It must be avoided and peace must be found in accordance with the UN Charter and international law.”
“That is the most ardent wish of the Ukrainians.“