Observers said they had visited a kindergarten that had been severely damaged during drone strikes in the eastern city of Kharkiv, near the Russian border, and noted that all 50 children had been safely evacuated.
‘Serious danger’
“This incident is a testament to ongoing attacks using long-range weaponry against residential areas, including educational institutions, putting civilians in grave danger,” HRMM posted on X.
Ukraine’s Energy Ministry reported that the attacks damaged infrastructure across the country, causing emergency blackouts in many regions. Power and water supplies were disrupted, while national rail services suffered delays due to damaged lines.
As the UN and its partners continue to deliver aid to war-weary communities on the ground, OCHA reiterated a crucial message: civilians should never be targets.
Frontline help
UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told correspondents in New York on Wednesday that an inter-agency humanitarian convoy had successfully reached Urozhaine, a frontline community routinely hit by shelling and drone attacks.
“We, together with our partners, delivered 11 metric tons of assistance to approximately 1,000 residents, including food, hygiene and dignity kits, warm blankets, solar lamps and medical supplies,” he highlighted.
“This was the 24th humanitarian convoy that headed this year to the most affected areas of the Kherson region.”
Although operations continue, UN humanitarian staff face increasing challenges following last week’s Tuesday incident in which a UN convoy of four aid trucks was attacked by Russian forces, a stark reminder of the risks faced by those providing life-saving assistance on the front lines.
“Of course, it is shocking,” Ukraine’s top aid coordinator, Andrea de Domenico, told UN News on Tuesday, noting that it was the first direct attack against a humanitarian convoy.
“After it happened, I told the team that this is one of the risks we have to face. Our UN security colleagues worked excellently with us and were very effective in protecting the lives of those who participated in that mission.
“It takes a lot of determination, courage and motivation to keep doing it, but that’s what it is, participating in humanitarian operations in a war zone.”