By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN human rights chief Volker Türk on Thursday has condemned the “continual bombardment” by Russian forces against Ukrainian people.
The UN human rights office in Geneva said that his reaction followed overnight attacks on energy infrastructure in Kyiv, Dnipro and the key port city of Odesa.
Over 8,800 multistorey buildings in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa are without heating, OHCHR reported.
Viktoriia Andrievska of the UN aid coordination office, OCHA said that in Kharkiv, temperatures are forecast to drop to minus 10°C or 14°F on Thursday evening.
“Without heating or electricity, homes will freeze, basic services will stop, for example, the lifts will stop working, and people, especially older residents and families with children, will struggle to stay warm and safe,” she said.
Mr. Turk emphasized the lasting impact of “large-scale” attacks by Russia on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, which he stressed are prohibited under international law.
“Millions of households struggle with only a few hours of electricity each day,” Mr. Türk said.
He noted that unheated schools have been forced to shut and medical care has been impacted too.
According to a Kremlin spokesperson the international efforts to end the war in Ukraine continue with Moscow announcing that it expected the “next round” of talks “to take place shortly”.
