UN deplores another wave of Russian attacks across Ukraine
Matthias Schmale condemned the large-scale Russian assault on the capital Kyiv, as well as Dnipro and Kharkiv, which marked the third time they have been struck in as many weeks.
“Instead of enjoying the start of the school summer break, children and their families spent the night in underground shelters, woken up by air raid sirens, explosions and uncertainty,” he said. UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the attack, his Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists in New York.He reiterated the Secretary-General’s urgent appeal for immediate de-escalation leading to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire.Over 600 missiles and drones deployedWhile Kyiv and Dnipro were among the most heavily affected cities, explosions were also reported in several other regions including Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Chernihiv and Poltava, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reported.The mission cited the Ukraine Air Force which said that Russia launched 656 long-range drones and missiles in the massive overnight attack, and although many of the weapons were intercepted, 30 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and 33 long-range drones stuck 38 locations.Russian authorities issued a statement saying the bombardment was in response to a Ukrainian attack last week in Starobilsk, Luhansk region, which reportedly killed 21 civilians, it said.Moscow had recently warned of “consistent and systemic” strikes against targets in Kyiv.Rescue operations underwayHMRRU teams visited sites in the city and Dnipro, where rescue operations were ongoing amid reports that people were still trapped under rubble."Though civilians took protective measures and sought shelter, the attack killed at least 22 civilians and injured 145, including children," said Danielle Bell, the HRMMU head.“The loss of life, injuries, and damage to civilian infrastructure underscore the foreseeable human cost of using explosive weapons in populated areas.”‘Senseless devastation’ An emergency worker in Kyiv was among those reportedly killed, HMRRU said, which highlights the risks these personnel face when assisting civilians following attacks.The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) expressed sadness over reports that a three-year-old boy was killed in Dnipro and that 10 children were injured in the attacks across Ukraine. “The brutal, senseless devastation of young lives must end,” the agency tweeted.
