Russia's attacks cause nearly one-third increase in civilian casualties in Ukraine in 2024

Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, reported the information at a Security Council meeting, according to Ukrinform.

"The increase in casualties among children is particularly distressing. More children were killed or injured in the first three quarters of 2024 than in all of 2023," DiCarlo emphasized.

She specified that, according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, at least 12,456 people have been killed since the start of the full-scale war, including 669 children. Additionally, 28,382 people have been injured, including 1,833 children.

Over the first nine months of last year, more than 580 educational and medical facilities were damaged or destroyed.

"I want to reiterate that we unconditionally condemn all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure," the Under-Secretary-General stressed.

She added that since the start of the full-scale invasion, 10 humanitarian workers have been killed while carrying out their duties, and 41 have been injured.

"There are reports that military personnel from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea were captured in the Kursk Region of the Russian Federation. The reported involvement of the DPRK troops in fighting alongside Russian forces continues to raise serious concerns regarding further internationalization of this already dangerous conflict," DiCarlo noted.

According to the humanitarian needs and response plan for Ukraine in 2025, released on Thursday, about 12.7 million people require support, she added.

DiCarlo also highlighted "the plight of the many 1000s of Ukrainian civilians living in territories of Ukraine currently occupied by the Russian Federation." She stated that the needs of the residents in these regions are considered serious, but access to them is limited.

The Under-Secretary-General also emphasized the increased shelling of Ukrainian energy facilities by Russia.

"The UN continues to work with the government of Ukraine to restore energy generation capacity while creating opportunities in the green energy sector," she stated.

DiCarlo reiterated concern over reports of executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian forces. In the December report by the OHCHR, at least 19 cases were cited, including the killing of 62 individuals since August.

"OHCHR also found that the Russian Federation has used widespread and systematic torture against Ukrainian prisoners of war," the Under-Secretary-General added.

She also mentioned that individual cases concerning Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine are being investigated by the authorities.

• On Thursday, January 16, the UN Security Council met to discuss the situation in Ukraine in relation to the ongoing Russian war.