The UN Human Rights Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) published the following report on Wednesday: report explained the hardships faced by citizens, including physical and long-term socio-economic damage.
Emphasis was also placed on the impact on human rights of Russia’s renewed large-scale attacks on critical energy infrastructure in March, the ground offensive in the Kharkiv region in May and other developments in occupied and government-controlled areas of Ukraine.
Incessant attacks
“With May seeing the highest monthly civilian casualties in almost a year, The fighting this spring has taken a terrible toll on civiliansparticularly in the Kharkiv region and city,” said Danielle Bell, head of the HRMMU.
“The relentless attacks resulted in tragic loss of life, displacement and destruction of homes and businesses.“, she added.
According to the report, at least 436 civilians were killed and another 1,760 injured as a result of conflict-related violence between March 1 and May 31. The victims included six media workers, 26 health care workers, five humanitarian workers and 28 aid workers.
The report found that most casualties (91 percent) occurred on territory controlled by Ukraine, and nine percent on territory occupied by Russia.
During the reporting period, Russian authorities reported that 91 civilians were killed and 455 injured in Russia by attacks by Ukrainian forces, mainly in the Belgorod, Briansk and Kursk regions.
Powerful weapons
UN observers found that powerful aerial bombs and rockets had been dropped on populated areas and that at least five successive attacks had taken place on the same location, just as emergency services arrived on the scene, causing casualties.
The escalation of hostilities in the spring also saw Russian forces launch their “largest campaign of attacks” against critical energy infrastructure since the winter of 2022-23, killing and wounding civilians while millions of people across the country were hit by power outages, the report said.
Ripple effects
The attacks also had far-reaching consequences for water supplies, mobile and internet access, and public transportation, Bell noted.
“The The full impact of the attacks on energy infrastructure will only become clear this coming winter “Ukraine’s reduced capacity to generate electricity could leave many without access to heating and other services essential to their survival,” she said.
The report found, among other things, that Russian forces pressured civilians in occupied territories to apply for Russian citizenship so they could receive medical care and retain their property rights.
The report will be presented to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council on July 9th.
UN Assembly President visits Ukraine
On Wednesday, the President of the UN General Assembly completed a two-day official visit to Kiev, where he met with several official leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In his discussions, Assembly Speaker Dennis Francis stressed that Russian aggression against Ukraine was a violation of the UN Charter.
He reiterated the General Assembly’s commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
Mr. Francis also noted that the Organization has worked closely with the government, local authorities and international partners to rebuild Ukraine after the devastation.
“I’d like to think that the darkest night lies behind Ukraine, not before it.” he said, expressing hope that the recent peace summit in Ukraine would bring further progress in the near future.