The United Nations (UN) has voiced grave concerns regarding a reported deadly attack on a dormitory in Russian-occupied Luhansk. Due to a lack of access to the area, the UN stated it could not independently verify the details of the assault.
During an emergency UN Security Council meeting, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban reported that the dormitory housed at least 86 young people, with approximately 86 of them aged between 14 and 18. Chaiban stated that the attack resulted in six fatalities and left numerous individuals, including children, injured. Rescue operations were ongoing, and the full extent of casualties remained unknown.
Chaiban emphasized that children bear a disproportionate burden of conflict, highlighting this incident as another instance where young people are paying the price for a war they did not start. Verified UN data indicates that over 3,400 children have been killed or injured in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Call to End Attacks on Civilian Targets
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, condemned all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, regardless of location. Dujarric reiterated the Secretary-General’s consistent message that such attacks are prohibited under international humanitarian law and must cease immediately.
Pattern of Attacks Violating International Law
Edem Wosornu, Operations Director for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), underscored the necessity of protecting civilians. Wosornu noted that the situation was still developing with much unknown, but the human cost of the war revealed a pattern that disregards international humanitarian law. He stressed the imperative to protect civilians. Vanessa Frazier, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, expressed concern over the Luhansk reports, stating that individuals may still be trapped under the rubble.
UNHCR Warehouse Struck
Earlier on Friday, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that escalating attacks across Ukraine are resulting in an increasing number of civilian casualties and disrupting humanitarian operations. Bernadette Castel-Hollingworth, the UNHCR Representative in Ukraine, detailed an incident earlier in the week where a UNHCR warehouse in Dnipro was hit by a missile during a Russian attack, destroying emergency shelter and relief supplies intended for displaced civilians. UNHCR stated this was the first attack on a UNHCR facility since the full-scale Russian invasion began. The agency also highlighted a concerning trend of attacks targeting humanitarian personnel and operations. Last week, two clearly marked UN humanitarian convoys distributing aid near frontline areas were reportedly struck by drones.
