Standing in front of a bombed-out residential building in the city of Dnipro, which came under sustained Russian strikes on Wednesday night, the country’s top U.N. official issued a passionate but weary plea: stop the attacks.
A dozen residents, including a child, were reported dead and dozens more were injured. in the night bombings. With rescue efforts underway, the number of victims is expected to rise.
According to Ukrainian officials, nearly 700 Russian drones were launched over the previous day and overnight, along with 19 additional ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, many of them aimed at the capital kyiv.
While Ukrainian air defenses shot down the vast majority of the drones and several missiles, those that managed to get through hit residential buildings in Odessa, kyiv and Dnipro. Among the dead is a 12-year-old boy and around 100 people were injured..
“Once again,” said Mr. Schmale, “Families have seen their homes damaged or destroyed in an instant. Others have spent the night in shelters or huddled in their homes, trying to comfort children terrified by the relentless alarms and explosions.”
These attacks have become part of daily life in communities far beyond the immediate front line. In cities like Dnipro, residents have endured several nights of intense attacks, while in Odessa strikes have become an almost daily threat.
“We should not be forced to count the number of civilian casualties every day.“added the senior UN official. “This cycle of violence against those who are simply trying to live their lives must stop.”
Dramatic increase in risks for children
The lives of children in Ukraine have become noticeably more dangerous in recent weeks. According to the latest verified data from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, Child victims increased 65 percent in March alone.with 89 children killed or injured in attacks.
The UN children’s agency (UNICEF) confirmed on Thursday that at least 3,452 children in Ukraine have been killed or injured since the large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine began in February 2022.
However, as these figures only represent cases verified by the UN, the real figure is likely to be considerably higher.
During more than four years of war, children have been forced to flee their homes on multiple occasions. According to a recent UNICEF survey, one in three adolescents ages 15 to 19 reported having moved at least twice, citing safety as the most common reason for running away.
“No child is safe in the country“said Anne-Claire Dufay, UNICEF representative in Ukraine. “Children still live under the constant threat of attacks wherever they are.”