Latest news with #HRMMU
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Türk Appeals For End To Daily Killing And Destruction In Ukraine
GENEVA (26 May 2025) – The killing and injuring of dozens of civilians over the weekend, mainly in attacks launched by Russian armed forces, underscores the urgent need to end the conflict in Ukraine and to commit to the steps necessary to achieve a lasting peace, in line with international law, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said today. Since Friday, nightly Russian attacks with record numbers of long-range missiles and drones have killed and injured civilians across Ukraine. According to information gathered by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), at least 14 civilians, including three children, were reportedly killed and 88, including 11 children, injured. The majority of those killed and injured were in major cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Mykolaiv, or in populated areas in other regions. Large numbers of long-range drones launched into the Russian Federation by Ukrainian armed forces injured at least 11 civilians over the weekend, according to Russian authorities. 'It is time to put an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, to commit to - and implement - a comprehensive ceasefire that stops the daily killing and destruction, and to start genuine peace negotiations, built on respect for international law,' said Türk. 'To achieve a sustainable solution, it is imperative to put people and their human rights first. The needs and rights of those most affected by the conflict, including prisoners of war (POWs), civilian detainees, deported and forcibly transferred children, the displaced and those living in occupied territory of Ukraine, must be at the centre of the discussions around peace,' the High Commissioner said. In recent days, 880 prisoners of war and 120 civilians from each side have been exchanged. Most of the civilians appeared to have been detainees, but details on individuals included in the exchange are not yet available. 'Many families can now breathe a sigh of relief because their loved ones have finally returned home. But at the same time, other families have lost relatives and their homes, as their communities across Ukraine came under attack,' Türk said. The High Commissioner highlighted that, even amid ongoing hostilities, people deprived of their liberty must be protected. Summary executions, torture and all forms of inhumane and degrading treatment of prisoners are always prohibited, in any circumstances, and must stop immediately. In addition, he stressed that civilian detainees should be released as soon as the lawful reason for their detention ceases to exist, and their protection against refoulement must be ensured. Practical measures to strengthen the protection of POWs and civilian detainees include enabling regular correspondence with their families, establishing Mixed Medical Commissions to visit and assess the health of POWs, and granting and improving the access of independent monitors, including the UN Human Rights Office, to places of internment and detention. Background: The UN Human Rights Office has monitored and reported on the human rights situation in Ukraine since 2014. It has in total interviewed more than 1,700 current and former POWs and civilian detainees on both sides. The Office has verified that at least 13,134 civilians have been killed and 31,867 injured since the Russian federation launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
Scoop
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
UN Rights Mission Deplores Deadly Russian Strikes In Ukraine
According to the UN mission, the overnight assault from Saturday into Sunday – one of the largest of its kind since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 – resulted in civilian casualties and damage to homes and infrastructure across 10 regions of Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv. At least three children were among those killed and nine children were reported injured. The mission is currently working to verify the full extent of the casualties and the broader impact of the attack. 'With at least 78 people reported killed or injured across the country, last night's attack tragically demonstrates the persistent deadly risk to civilians of using powerful weapons in urban areas, including those far away from the frontline,' Danielle Bell, HRMMU Head, said in a news release on Sunday. 'It is yet another addition to the staggering human toll this war continues to inflict on civilians, with more families across the country now grieving their losses.' No place is safe Matthias Schmale, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, also voiced deep concern over the civilian suffering. 'I am horrified that yet again civilians – among them children – were killed in last night's massive attacks,' he said in a statement posted on the social media platform X. 'Across Ukraine, no place is safe. Homes and civilian infrastructure were hit. Grateful to humanitarian NGOs and state services who are immediately supporting affected people. Civilians must never be a target.' Use of long-range weapons Ukrainian authorities reported that the Russian armed forces launched at least 367 missiles and loitering munitions during the night, in a coordinated attack with air, sea and land-based systems. The strike followed a similar assault the previous night, which had mainly targeted the Kyiv region. HRMMU noted that the use of long-range weapons in urban areas has been a major driver of civilian casualties in March and April. While the number of casualties in May had been somewhat lower than April before the latest attack, the toll from this weekend's strikes will add to the monthly figures.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russians 'mock' US and peace process with latest attacks on Ukraine, EU ambassador says
Following a deadly overnight Russian attack on May 25, EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova described the strikes as mocking diplomatic attempts at peace. "Russians are relentlessly stepping up the pressure. Stepping up the terror against civilians," Mathernova wrote in a Facebook post. "The attacks are more intense and frequent. They laugh at the world!!! They mock the U.S. and mock any diplomatic attempt at peace. Peace? What peace?" Russia launched 69 missiles and 298 drones overnight on May 25, according to Ukraine's Air Force. The attack killed 12 people, including three children, and injured more than 60, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. "How will the world react to Putin's terror and clear provocation? To his mockery of any ceasefire discussion? I must admit, I ask that myself," Mathernova wrote. "Putin is clearly after his stated goal, killing Ukrainians and forcing Ukraine into submission. Sadly, the only language he understands is the language of force." President Volodymyr Zelensky, in response to the attacks, called for stronger sanctions on Russia and added that the silence from the U.S. and others "encourages Putin." Representatives from Ukraine and Russia met recently in Istanbul on May 16, for the first direct talks between the two countries in three years. Though the Ukrainian team had pushed for an unconditional ceasefire, the discussions ceased without any apparent progress towards this goal. Russia "categorically" rejected the appeal in Turkey, according to Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsia, who attended the talks as a member of the Ukrainian delegation. After the talks concluded, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed on May 21 that Moscow had no interest in agreeing to a ceasefire in Ukraine, saying that Russia "doesn't want this anymore." In response to the Russian attacks on May 24 and May 25, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) released a statement "deploring" the deadly new wave of attacks. 'With at least 78 people reported killed or injured across the country, last night's attack tragically demonstrates the persistent deadly risk to civilians of using powerful weapons in urban areas, including those far away from the frontline,' said Danielle Bell, Head of HRMMU. 'It is yet another addition to the staggering human toll this war continues to inflict on civilians, with more families across the country now grieving their losses.' Since the start of its full-scale invasion, Russia has routinely used missiles and drones to strike Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. Read also: 'It's terrorism' — Russia launches one of the heaviest strikes on Kyiv during full-scale war We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Scoop
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Civilians Killed In Drone Strike In Eastern Ukraine: UN Rights Monitors
17 May 2025 At least nine people were killed and seven injured when a Russian drone struck a minibus near the town of Bilopillia in the Sumy region, according to local authorities. HRMMU monitors are in the process of gathering additional information on the circumstances of the attack and its victims. Preliminary reports suggest that the minibus was carrying civilian evacuees from an area close to the frontline, the majority of whom were women. 'A stark reminder' 'With nine civilians reported killed, this would be the deadliest attack in weeks,' said Danielle Bell, Head of HRMMU. 'This is a stark reminder that civilians continue to be killed and injured on a daily basis across Ukraine.' If confirmed, the strike would represent the deadliest attack since 24 April, when at least 11 civilians were killed and 81 injured in the capital, Kyiv. HRMMU said that while the number of civilian casualties in May has been somewhat lower than in April, it continues to document daily civilian casualties, particularly along the frontline.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia's ballistic missiles make April deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since last fall, UN reports
Russia killed 209 and injured 1,146 civilians during April, making it the deadliest month and the one with the highest number of injured since September 2024, the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reported on May 8. At least 19 children were killed and 78 injured in April, the highest verified monthly number of child casualties since June 2022. "One of the main reasons for the sharp rise in civilian casualties was the intensified use of ballistic missiles in major cities across the country," Danielle Bell, Head of HRMMU said, in a statement accompanying the report. The news comes as the Trump administration continues to try and bring Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiating table. Yet, the progress has been limited, and Donald Trump's team has pressured Kyiv to make concessions to Russia, without applying visible pressure on Moscow to halt its aggression. The high number of civilian casualties in April reflects a broader trend of increased harm to civilians in 2025 compared to 2024. Between January and April 2025, 664 civilians were killed and 3,425 injured, a 59% increase compared to the same period in 2024, the report read. In April, 97% of civilian casualties were recorded in Ukraine-controlled territory. Almost half of all cases were caused by Russian missile attacks or shelling. Kryvyi Rih, Sumy, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, and Kharkiv suffered the most damage over the past month. Attacks using short-range drones near the contact line accounted for 23% of civilian casualties during the month. Meanwhile, in early May, the trend of targeting large Ukrainian cities with loitering munitions also continued, according to the report. "The progressive rise in the number of civilian casualties every month this year is closely tied to the use of long-range missiles and drones on urban areas," Bell said "This has been compounded by continued drone attacks in frontline areas, driving a steady and alarming rise in civilian casualties, including children," she added. Read also: 'Clearly, Ukraine is holding cards' — economist on why US pressure won't force Kyiv to concede We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
