UN 'profoundly disturbed' by Russian attacks on Ukraine

WASHINGTON

The UN voiced extreme concern Tuesday about overnight Russian airstrikes against Ukraine that left at least seven dead and dozens injured, calling them a violation of international law.

Spokesperson Farhan Haq said the UN's humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown, was "profoundly disturbed by the latest Russian strikes yesterday that hit residential buildings and other civilian places" in the Donetsk region.

"The same location was hit twice in the space of minutes, causing the death and injury of people who had quickly come to help the survivors, including rescue workers from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine," said Haq.

Brown said the raid "adds to the very long list of attacks in Ukraine, including many over the past few days, that must be investigated as they violate international humanitarian law," according to Haq.

Ukrainian authorities said the attack on the city of Pokrovsk damaged 12 high-rise buildings, two catering establishments, two shops, an administrative building, a pharmacy, hotel, as well as official and civilian cars.

Seven people were killed and 81 others were injured, including 29 police officers, seven rescuers and two children, according to Ukraine's Interior Ministry. Children as young as 10 were among those killed.

Authorities said they had to halt demolition work in the area due to the high threat of repeated shelling, but were later able to continue.

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which started in February 2022, has killed more than 9,300 civilians and wounded over 16,600, according to UN figures.