By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN aid coordination office, OCHA, on Monday reported large-scale attacks and hostilities in Ukraine over the weekend which caused widespread civilian casualties and disrupted critical services across the country.
According to OCHA, at least 15 civilians were killed and over 70 were injured over the weekend.
The Russian missile and drone attacks affected 10 regions: Chernihiv, Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava and Sumy, OCHA stated.
Matthias Schmale, the humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine condemned the attacks, stated “civilians and civilian objects are fully protected under international humanitarian law, and are not a target.”
The attacks also disrupted electricity, heating and water supply, making it even harder for vulnerable people to cope amid cold winter temperatures, he said.
OCHA added that energy and residential infrastructure were damaged in many regions including Chernihiv, Odesa and Poltava, while major cities like Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa are experienced power outages, with electricity available only for a few hours a day.
UN and partners quickly mobilized to provide emergency shelter materials, blankets, hygiene items, hot drinks and psychosocial support in several areas, OCHA added.
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