Jeremy Lawrence, spokesman for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, said this week’s large-scale missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s power grid raised serious concerns about the plight of people already suffering this winter.
On Thursday, Russia launched missile and long-range drone strikes in Ukraine, causing damage in at least 13 areas outside the capital, Kiev.
The attacks have affected more than a million people across Ukraine, causing power outages and disruptions to essential services such as water and transport in some areas.
The attack continued
Spokesman Jeremy Lawrence said Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy production capacity have been carried out since March, causing predictable civilian casualties.
The most vulnerable are particularly at risk, including the elderly, low-income families, people with disabilities, and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
“As temperatures drop below freezing, and temperatures are likely to continue to drop further, electricity and electricity-dependent services have become even more critical to the survival of the civilian population,” the spokesperson said.
Jeremy Lawrence said that although the full impact of recent attacks will become clear over time, the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) continues to monitor the aftermath of such attacks.
Staff are documenting impacts on power generation, water distribution, heating and hot water, public health and education
Call for investigation
He said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk reiterated that the military operation to damage or destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has many facets, including “careful targeting of Russian military and civilian targets in the conduct of hostilities.” There are serious concerns about whether core principles of international humanitarian law, such as the use of force and proportionality, will be respected.
The UN Human Rights Office has insisted that these repeated systematic attacks must be investigated, and that anyone responsible for serious violations must be held accountable.
“We call on the Russian Federation to immediately cease all attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, to account for all unlawful attacks, and to prioritize the international community’s support for the repair and restoration of Ukraine’s energy system,” spokesman Jeremy Lawrence said. to give.”
Effects on nuclear power plants
Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Thursday that three operational nuclear power plants in Ukraine had reduced their power output following the Russian attack. This is the second such incident in two weeks.
“Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is extremely fragile and fragile, putting its nuclear security at great risk,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.
“I again call for maximum military restraint at major nuclear power facilities and other places where those areas depend,” he said.
Avoid nuclear risk
Although there were no reports of direct damage to nuclear power plants, Ukraine informed the IAEA that the attacks had also affected several power substations.
These substations, identified by the IAEA as critical to nuclear safety and security, have been damaged in previous attacks.
Rafael Mariano Grossi said the UN agency would continue to assess the extent of damage to nuclear, safety and security facilities and power lines.
“The IAEA will continue to do everything in its power to reduce the risk of nuclear accidents during this tragic war,” he said.