UN Calls for Justice in Ukraine Talks as Civilian Deaths Surge
UN Urges Ceasefire After Record Civilian Toll
On the front of the UN rights chief’s plea
Volker Turk stressed that any peace initiative must centre on full accountability for the war’s violations. He followed the latest US pressure from former President Donald Trump, who demanded Moscow end the conflict within 50 days or face sweeping sanctions and strengthened NATO support for Kyiv.
Key Points from the UN briefing
- Immediate halt to all drone and missile strikes that target civilians.
- Guarantee for the rights of people in occupied areas.
- Repatriation of children forcibly removed or deported.
- Establishment of humanitarian corridors across the line of control.
- End of the torture and ill treatment of prisoners of war and other detainees.
Surging Civilian Casualties
Since the full‑scale invasion in February 2022, Russia has amplified drone and missile attacks. The UN has verified at least 13,580 civilian deaths and 34,115 injuries, though the true figures remain higher. In June, the toll reached a three‑year high with 232 killed and 1,343 wounded. July has brought no respite, with at least 139 civilians killed and 791 wounded so far.
Turk warned that the sustained use of explosive weapons in populated areas likely violates international humanitarian law, raising serious concerns about indiscriminate impacts.
Attacks on Healthcare Facilities
The World Health Organization’s Ukraine representative, Jarno Habicht, reported a nearly doubled rate of attacks on medical sites in the second quarter of 2025: 2,504 incidents, 212 deaths and 768 injuries. While the WHO records attacks, it does not attribute blame, staying clear of criminal investigations.
Habicht emphasized that healthcare sites cannot be safe places for patients and workers, constituting a violation of humanitarian law. He also highlighted growing “problem behaviors” during the war, such as heavy drinking among adults and new tobacco products adopted by youths.
