UN responds to wave of large-scale Russian strikes on Dnipro, Kyiv, and Kharkiv

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, condemned the wave of large-scale Russian attacks on Dnipro, Kyiv, and Kharkiv, which resulted in civilian deaths and injuries.

This was stated in a declaration by Schmale published on June 2 on the website of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator noted that the first days of summer in Ukraine began with yet another large-scale bombardment of Kyiv, Dnipro, and Kharkiv by the Russian Federation.

"The early days of summer in Ukraine are marked by yet another large-scale massive attack by the Russian Federation Armed Forces on Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv—for the third time over the past three weeks. Several civilians are reported dead, and scores more, including several children, are injured. Homes, hospitals and shops have been destroyed or damaged," Schmale stated.

He emphasized that instead of celebrating the start of summer school holidays, children and their families spent the night in shelters, waking to air raid sirens, explosions, and uncertainty. Schmale noted that the war continues to have devastating consequences for civilians and their mental health, as people are unable to find relief and fear and anxiety are only increasing due to expectations of further strikes across the country.

"Adhering to international humanitarian law means taking all measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and homes. The Russian Federation's inflammatory rhetoric and escalation of attacks should stop, paving the way for a just peace," the Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine stressed.

As Ukrinform reported, the number of people injured in Kyiv as a result of the massive Russian attack on June 2 has risen to 79, with six people killed.

In Dnipro, the death toll from the overnight attack has increased to 12.