Last night, the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia were targeted by Russian drone attacks, resulting in a tragic death toll of ten, including three children. This event has led to strong condemnation from the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, which expressed deep concern over the loss of young lives in this conflict. The organization made an urgent call for the need to protect children and cease attacks in populated areas.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also lamented the attack in Kharkiv, highlighting the severe damage to civilians and residential infrastructure. In a message shared on the social media platform X, OCHA demanded respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians.
The incidents occurred one day before a crucial meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders, as well as U.S. President Donald Trump, in Washington, D.C. Trump had previously had a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, during which they discussed a possible agreement to end the war in Ukraine. However, that dialogue did not lead to a concrete agreement, although both leaders described it as a “breakthrough.”
Ukrainian authorities have released images showing damage to an apartment complex in Kharkiv, where there is a large hole in the roof and severely damaged upper floors. While parts of the building were burned, the fires had already been extinguished. Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, is located about 30 kilometers from the Russian border and has been subjected to constant attacks since the invasion began on February 24, 2022.
In Zaporizhzhia, three fatalities and nearly twenty injuries were reported, despite Ukrainian air defenses managing to intercept almost 90 drones and missiles, highlighting the ongoing aerial threat.
UN human rights reports reveal that July 2023 became the month with the highest number of civilian casualties in Ukraine since May 2022, with 286 killed and 1,388 injured. Air strikes, especially those targeted with short-range drones, have significantly increased the number of casualties. In areas controlled by the Ukrainian government, Russian forces continue their territorial offensive, exacerbating the situation and notably affecting cities like Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Kyiv.
via: MiMub in Spanish
