Nearly 2,500 people have been affected by Russian aerial bombs in frontline regions
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has confirmed the death or injury of 15,280 civilians in Ukraine during the first eight months of the current year. This figure represents a 55% increase compared to the same period in 2025. This was reported by UN News citing Volker Türk, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, speaking before the Human Rights Council in Geneva, described the conflict in Ukraine as a rapidly intensifying humanitarian catastrophe. He stated that, on average, more than 400 cases of death or injury among civilians are recorded each week.
Scale of war crimes
According to the organization’s report, over 1,000 cases of sexual violence against civilians and prisoners of war have been documented. In 89% of these incidents, responsibility is attributed to the Russian authorities, while 11% involve Ukrainian forces.
Volker Türk emphasized that frontlines remain largely static, despite constant shelling of residential areas, medical facilities, and commercial sites. Specifically, the use of aerial bombs by Russian forces in the Donetsk, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia regions has resulted in casualties among nearly 2,500 civilians over the eight-month period.
Consequences for energy and logistics
Energy infrastructure is sustaining significant damage, and strikes on food industry facilities are already causing shortages of dairy and vegetable products in certain areas. In the city of Oleshky, approximately 2,000 people remain trapped without access to water, electricity, or gas supplies.
The UN office also highlighted that Ukraine has become a laboratory for drone warfare testing. Volker Türk called on the international community to take immediate action to resolve the conflict through negotiations before the devastation becomes irreversible.
The Commissioner expressed concern regarding the recruitment of foreign mercenaries into combat operations, many of whom claim they were deceived into joining the ranks of the Russian army. He insisted on the necessity of confidence-building measures, including a full exchange of prisoners and the cessation of attacks on economic and energy targets.
Illustrative photo: Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kharkiv Oblast / CC BY 4.0
Read also: Logistics costs for grain exports from Giurgiulesti port rise to $75 per tonne
