UN rights monitors says civilians died in drone strike in eastern Ukraine

By Anjali Sharma

UNITED NATIONS – UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine HRMMU, on Saturday has said that a drone strike in eastern Ukraine killed dozens civilians and it could possibly be the deadliest.

According to local authorities at least 9 people were killed and 7 injured when a Russian drone hit a minibus near the town of Bilopillia in the Sumy region.

HRMMU monitors are in the process of gathering additional information on the circumstances of the attack and its victims.

The preliminary reports suggested that the minibus was carrying civilian evacuees from an area close to the frontline, the majority of whom were women.

Danielle Bell, Head of HRMMU said “With nine civilians reported killed, this would be the deadliest attack in weeks.”

“This is a stark reminder that civilians continue to be killed and injured on a daily basis across Ukraine.”

If confirmed that the strike would represent the deadliest attack since 24 April, when at least 11 civilians were killed and 81 injured in the capital, Kyiv.

HRMMU said that while the number of civilian casualties in May has been somewhat lower than in April, it continues to document daily civilian casualties, particularly along the frontline.