Conflicts & War

13 million trapped by hostilities in Ukraine, UN warns of possible war crimes

Geneva, Mar 25 (EFE).- Around 13 million people in Ukraine are unable to flee hostilities due to blockades and damaged roads while the high number of civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure points to possible war crimes in the Russian invasion, United Nations agencies warned Friday.

Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has so far displaced at least 10 million people, over 3.7 million of whom have sought refuge abroad.

“These numbers are rising daily, ” Karolina Lindholm, representative of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in Ukraine, told reporters via videolink from Lviv on Friday.

“Some 13 million people are estimated to be stranded in affected areas or unable to leave due to heightened security risks, destruction of bridges and roads, as well as lack of resources or information on where to find safety and accommodation.”

UN human rights representative in Ukraine Matilda Bogner said Friday there was evidence to suggest that damage to civilian buildings and other infrastructure as well as the high casualty toll in Ukraine could constitute international human rights violations and war crimes.

Bogner added that her office had received reports of Russian troops opening fire and killing civilians fleeing in cars as well as peaceful protesters in areas of Ukraine occupied by Russian forces. EFE

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