‘More than 260 children killed during Ukraine war’
Kyiv, June 7 (EFE).- Russian forces have killed more than 260 children since the invasion of Ukraine began over 100 days ago, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office said Tuesday.
The prosecutor’s office said over 467 children suffered injuries in the war that began with the Russian invasion on Feb.24.
“As of June 7, over 730 children in Ukraine were affected by the Russian armed aggression,” a statement said on Telegram.
The statement citing data from juvenile prosecutors said that “263 children were killed and over 467 injured.”
However, the prosecutor said the data was not definitive since they were still investigating the areas of hostilities, temporarily occupied and liberated from the Russian occupation.
The Russian bombings have destroyed nearly 2,000 educational institutions.
The United Nations children’s fund (Unicef) has said the humanitarian needs had multiplied “by the hour as the fighting continues” in Ukraine.
“Children continue to be killed, wounded, and deeply traumatized by the violence all around them. Many have seen things no child should ever see,” a Unicef statement said last week.
“Their homes have been hit. Their schools have been attacked along with all the systems that could help them survive. Families are terrified, in shock, and desperate for safety.”
The UN agency warned that the large-scale displacement of people since the war started could have lasting consequences for generations to come.
“Children fleeing war in Ukraine are also at heightened risk of human trafficking and exploitation.”
Meanwhile, the army reported Tuesday that Ukrainian troops have engaged with Russian soldiers in street fighting in the Severodonetsk city, which is critical for Moscow to control the eastern Donbas region.
The Russians have been trying to capture the city for several days, and its control will allow them to take over the entire pro-Russian region of Donetsk.
The Ukrainian military said the Russian forces used artillery shelling and fired from planes and helicopters, focusing on the Severodonetsk and Bakhmut areas. EFE
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