By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine on Tuesday condemned the death of 14 civilians and over 100 injured in Kyiv overnight bombings by Russian drone and missile strikes which hit multiple Ukrainian cities, one of the heaviest nights of bombing in months.
According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, over 30 locations across 7 districts of Kyiv were struck in what it described as “the deadliest attack” on Kyiv in nearly a year.
Danielle Bell, Head of HRMMU said “Last night’s attack exemplifies the grave threat posed by the tactic of deploying missiles and large numbers of drones simultaneously into populated areas.”
Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale 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.”
HRMMU said that in the southern port city of Odesa, strikes reportedly injured several civilians and damaged a kindergarten and a centre for children with special needs 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 needs.
UN agency noted that the barrage included 440 long-range drones and 32 missiles launched by Russian forces, citing information from Ukrainian authorities, of which 175 drones and 14 missiles targeted Kyiv.
Over 400 munitions were fired in a single night far surpassed the 544 total launched during the entire month of June 2024, it said.
The human toll of such tactics had been rising sharply.
HRMMU had verified at least 29 civilian deaths and 126 injuries from long-range weapons in June alone.
The overall civilian casualty count in the first five months of 2025 is 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.”
The broader humanitarian crisis continues to deepen. The intense conflict in its third year since Russia’s full-scale invasion, has driven more than 6.3 million Ukrainians to seek refuge across Europe.
According to a report released by Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Most are women, children, and older persons, many of whom rely on temporary protection directives extended by host countries like the European Union and Moldova.
The agency urged the respective governments to maintain legal status for refugees until conditions allow for safe, dignified, and sustainable returns.
