Miroslav Jenča, Under-Secretary-General in the UN Department of Political Affairs and Peacebuilding, said the past month had been particularly deadly for Ukrainian civilians, with at least 219 dead and more than 1,000 wounded.
Since February 24, 2022, the date of Russia’s large-scale invasion, the UN Human Rights Office, OHCHRhas documented 11,662 civilians dead and 24,207 wounded. The real figure may be higher.
“Tragically, These numbers are only growing“While rockets, missiles and drones continue to hit cities, towns and villages across Ukraine on a daily basis,” Mr Jenča said.
Fighting on Russian soil
He also expressed concern about the impact of the spread of fighting among civilians in the Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk regions of Russia.
At least 12 people have been killed and 121 others wounded since Ukraine began its invasion of the Kursk region on August 6, local Russian officials said. More than 130,000 people have reportedly been evacuated from the region.
Mr Jenča reiterated the UN Secretary-General’s condemnation of attacks on civilians and infrastructure wherever they occur.
“These attacks are prohibited by international humanitarian law. They must stop immediately. We urge all parties to act responsibly and ensure the protection of civilians.”
Concerns about nuclear safety
The senior UN official further expressed concern about reported incidents surrounding nuclear facilities in Ukraine and Russia, particularly the deterioration of nuclear safety situation at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine.
On August 17, a drone struck the road around the perimeter of the power plant. This incident followed a major fire in one of the cooling towers on August 11, which caused significant damage.
Mr Jenča added that concerns are also emerging over nuclear safety and security in Russia’s Kursk region.
On August 22, Russia reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that remains of a drone have been found on the territory of the Kursk nuclear power plant.
“We continue to call for maximum restraint and vigilance to prevent a nuclear incident“The consequences of this could be catastrophic for the region and the world,” he urged.
Humanitarian situation
Mr Jenča also stressed the serious impact of the humanitarian crisis, particularly on women, who make up 56 percent of the 15 million people in need of assistance in Ukraine.
“In the frontline areas, particularly in eastern and southern Ukraine, entire villages and towns have been partially or completely destroyed,” he said, adding that “humanitarian operations in some areas do not provide access to people in need.”
This year, the UN and humanitarian partners aim to reach 8.5 million people with life-saving assistance, including: through the winter.
However, the response remains limited, with only 41 percent of the $3.1 billion needed under the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan received so far.