UN denounces 'terrible' impact of Ukraine war on civilians and calls for end to attacks

The United Nations has condemned the “terrible” impact of the war in Ukraine on civilians and called for an immediate halt to attacks targeting civilian infrastructure and residential buildings. Speaking on Tuesday, Thameen al Kheetan, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, highlighted the increasing harm being inflicted on non-combatants due to long-range strikes against both Ukrainian and Russian territory. He emphasized that such infrastructure is strictly protected under international law, making these attacks constitute war crimes. The remarks come amid reports of multiple civilian casualties and damage to private logistics centers in Russia following Ukrainian strikes. According to local authorities, at least five people were killed in an attack by Ukrainian forces using drones on a bus in the Russian region of Belgorod on Monday. This incident occurred during the ongoing conflict, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, ordered by President Vladimir Putin. The UN official also noted that Kyiv had been targeted by long-range attacks for the seventh time within a single month, while similar strikes have caused civilian casualties and damaged private sector facilities in Russian territory. These attacks have raised concerns over the safety of civilians and the legality of such actions under international humanitarian law. In separate developments, the UN has accused Israel of escalating its attacks on the Gaza Strip, resulting in dozens of civilian deaths. Al Kheetan stated that Israeli military operations have intensified in recent days, leading to injuries and fatalities among children, women, and men. The attacks have reportedly hit residential buildings, a tent shelter housing internally displaced persons, and densely populated areas. Nine months after the announcement of a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States in November 2025, the UN has confirmed that no area in Gaza is safe for Palestinians. As of mid-April 2026, the organization has verified the death of 685 Palestinians, including 283 women and children, since October 2025. The spokesperson further detailed that at least 57 Palestinians died between June 13 and June 20, including six children, many of whom were killed outside the so-called “yellow line,” a demarcation line established by Israel where its troops are stationed. Al Kheetan expressed concern over the continued violations of international humanitarian law, potential war crimes, and other atrocities committed in Gaza. He criticized the Israeli military for routinely firing upon Palestinians simply for being near the yellow line, violating both human rights and humanitarian laws. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that the number of deaths attributed to Israeli attacks has risen to 1,168, with 3,798 injured, as of Tuesday. Additionally, 802 bodies have been recovered from areas vacated by Israeli troops following the ceasefire agreement. Since the start of Israel’s offensive against Gaza in response to attacks on October 7, 2023—resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and nearly 250 hostages according to official figures, the ministry documented 73,293 deaths and 173,906 injuries, including ten fatalities and 42 wounded from attacks in the past 24 hours. Al Kheetan reiterated the need for urgent action, urging the international community to enforce the ceasefire fully, end all violations, and ensure accountability and justice for victims. The situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with the population increasingly confined to smaller areas as the “yellow line” is repeatedly moved westward by occupying forces. The UN remains engaged in verifying casualties and documenting abuses, calling for greater global intervention to address the ongoing crisis.