The United Nations condemns civilian casualties as the war in Ukraine reaches 500 days, with over 9,000 civilians, including 500 children, killed since Russia's invasion in February 2022.
The UN's Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine expresses deep concern over the devastating toll on civilians, acknowledging that the actual number of casualties is likely much higher than officially reported. While casualties in Ukraine have been lower this year compared to 2022, the figures have risen again in recent months.
On June 27, a missile attack in Kramatorsk claimed the lives of 13 civilians, including four children, while a separate attack in Lviv resulted in the deaths of 10 people and left 37 injured. The UN highlights that three times as many civilians have been killed in the past 500 days than in the previous eight years of hostilities.
Russia's airstrikes, including indiscriminate artillery and missile fire, have caused significant harm to civilians and targeted infrastructure.
The US's announcement of providing cluster munitions to Ukrainian forces has raised concerns among human rights groups due to the indiscriminate nature and long-term risks to civilians. Over 120 countries signed the UN Convention on Cluster Munitions in 2008 to prohibit their use.
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