More than a month into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, around 13 million people in Ukraine are unable to flee due to hostilities, blockades, and damaged roads.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has warned that the soaring civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure indicate possible war crimes.
The U.S. and its Western allies have already accused Mosco of committing war crimes in its neighboring country, where the war has so far displaced at least 10 million people, and pushed over 3.7 million as refugees in foreign countries.
“These numbers are rising daily, ” Karolina Lindholm, representative of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in Ukraine, told reporters via video link 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 says there is 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.
Since Russian armed forces launched their attacks on 24 February, at least 1,035 civilians have been killed and at least 1,650 injured. The UN says the figure “is likely much higher in locations that have seen intense fighting, in particular Mariupol and Volnovakha…If we look at Mariupol, clearly the number of deaths of civilian casualties there is significantly higher.”
As part of its relief efforts, the UN has continued to push to reach populations at greatest risk “in eastern Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk oblast, as well as in the south, Kherson and Kiev”, a UNHCR official said.
“They are blocked in these areas that are encircled or where the roads are now inaccessible, due to mines and, for example, burnt-out vehicles. This has been one of the reasons why it’s so difficult to get to Mariupol.”
Washington and its NATO allies have imposed rounds of sanctions on Russia, targeting its economy in reaction to the invasion.
President Joe Biden reiterated the U.S. support for the people of Ukraine in a speech in Brussels. The U.S. and European countries have promised to aid the Ukrainians in the face of massive war attacks. President Vladimir Putin, who ordered the action against Ukraine citing security concerns, is under pressure over impact of the economic sanctions.
