UN humanitarian coordinator Matthias Schmel said in a statement issued on Tuesday that yet another attack by the Russian military has resulted in civilian casualties. The attack took place at dawn in a busy market in the city of Kherson.
According to media reports, at least five people lost their lives and many others were injured in the attack. Markets and public transport waiting areas were also affected.
The top UN official said Ukraine was invaded by Russia on February 24, 2022, after which thousands of people were targeted in their daily lives, in markets, schools and hospitals, and forced to leave their homes because of the war.
Matthias Schmel stressed that under international humanitarian law, attacks on civilians and civilian facilities are strictly prohibited.
Casualties increase
Meanwhile, according to the UN Human Rights Office in Ukraine, the number of civilian casualties and damage to civilian facilities increased from June to August this year.
According to the new report of the United Nations Office, from June 1, 2024 to August 31, 2024, 589 civilians were killed and more than 2500 were injured. The number of civilian casualties recorded during this period was 45 percent higher than the previous three months.
Till now, July 2024 has proved to be the deadliest month for common citizens since October 2024. The deadliest day was July 8 when at least 43 civilians were killed in a large-scale missile attack.
Meanwhile, the Russian military continues to damage energy installations in Ukraine, affecting essential services and raising concerns ahead of the winter season.
The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has confirmed that at least 11,743 people have been killed and more than 24,000 injured in the war in Ukraine as of August 31.
The report also sheds light on the treatment of prisoners of war based on data gathered through hundreds of interviews.
Status of prisoners of war
It shows that the Russian military has widely and systematically tortured and mistreated prisoners of war in Ukraine.
They were severely beaten, given electric shocks, suffocated, forced to remain in rigid positions for long periods of time, deprived of sleep, treated humiliatingly and thought to be killed.
According to the report, there are indications that detention center supervisory officers were aware of this behavior and had the power to stop it. Some public figures in Russia have deliberately incited inhumane treatment and even the killing of prisoners of war in the state media.
At the same time, Ukrainian security forces tortured and mistreated Russian prisoners of war, especially during the first days of their detention.
They were beaten, threatened with death and subjected to physical abuse and in some cases electric shocks.
However, in almost all cases, torture and ill-treatment stopped after being brought to government prisons, where conditions appear to be in line with international standards.