UN condemns deadly Russian strikes as civilian toll rises

Aftermath of a strike in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. (file)

At least 14 civilians were reportedly killed and more than 100 injured in Kyiv overnight into Tuesday, as Russian drone and missile strikes hit multiple Ukrainian cities in one of the heaviest bombardments in months.

According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), over 30 locations across seven districts of Kyiv were struck in what it described as “the deadliest attack” on the Ukrainian capital in nearly a year.

“Last night’s attack exemplifies the grave threat posed by the tactic of deploying missiles and large numbers of drones simultaneously into populated areas,” said Danielle Bell, Head of HRMMU.

Matthias Schmale, Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, also strongly condemned the attacks, which extended to Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, and other areas.

“The people of Ukraine should not have to take cover in shelters night after night,” he said. “Each day, the war takes a devastating toll on civilians.”

In the southern port city of Odesa, several civilians were reportedly injured, and a kindergarten and a center for children with special needs were damaged—places where children should feel safe. In Zaporizhzhia, residential buildings were hit.

First responders and humanitarian agencies are on the ground, providing emergency care and supplies while assessing further needs.
Human Toll Rising

The barrage included 440 long-range drones and 32 missiles launched by Russian forces, according to Ukrainian authorities, with 175 drones and 14 missiles targeting Kyiv alone.

This marked the fourth time in June that over 400 munitions were fired in a single night—surpassing the 544 launched in the entire month of June 2024.

Even before this latest attack, the human toll from such tactics had been rising sharply. HRMMU had already verified at least 29 civilian deaths and 126 injuries from long-range weapons in June.

Overall, the civilian casualty count in the first five months of 2025 is nearly 50 per cent higher than in the same period last year.

Mr. Schmale reiterated that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law.

“Civilians, including children, must never be a target,” he said. “We must not normalize the war.”
Refugee Crisis Deepens

Meanwhile, the broader humanitarian crisis continues to deepen. The intense conflict, now in its third year since Russia’s full-scale invasion, has driven more than 6.3 million Ukrainians to seek refuge across Europe.

Most are women, children, and older persons who rely on temporary protection directives extended by host countries such as the European Union and Moldova, according to a Tuesday report by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Given the ongoing volatility in Ukraine, the agency urged governments to maintain legal protections for refugees until conditions allow for safe, dignified, and sustainable returns.