Over 3,300 civilians killed in Donbas since war started – UN
Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine Matilda Bogner said this while presenting a report on the human rights situation in Ukraine between February 16 and July 31, 2020, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
"Since the conflict started, the total death toll for civilians has reached at least 3,367, and more than 7,000 civilians have been injured. From 1 January to 31 July 2020, the Mission recorded 107 civilian casualties: 18 killed (ten men, seven women and one boy) and 89 injured (49 men, 30 women, six girls and four boys)," she said.
While the report highlights spikes in hostilities resulting in civilian casualties in March and May, it welcomes the package of additional measures to strengthen the ceasefire that took effect on July 27. These measures contributed to easing the effects of the conflict on the civilian population with zero civilian casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure resulting from active hostilities recorded since August 1, 2020.
“We urge parties to the conflict to respect the ceasefire indefinitely and to fully comply with international humanitarian law. Zero civilian casualties must remain the objective,” Ms Bogner reiterated.
As Ukrinform reported, a full and comprehensive ceasefire in Donbas was established on July 27, 2020. At the same time, on September 6, the armed formations of the Russian Federation opened aimed fire from small arms at Ukrainian positions near Prychepylivka in Luhansk region. As a result of the shelling, one Ukrainian serviceman was killed.
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