Humanitarians support civilians affected by recent attacks in Ukraine

“Our colleagues in Ukraine just told us that new attacks today struck Poltava in the centre of the country. Initial reports indicate a number of civilian casualties,” he told journalists attending his daily briefing at UN Headquarters, in New York.

At least 50 people were killed, and more than 200 injured, when two Russian missiles hit a military training facility and nearby hospital in the city, according to media reports.

Kharkiv attacks condemned

The attack came in the wake of airstrikes in Kharkiv city, in northeastern Ukraine, on 30 August and 1 September. Six people were killed and 150 were injured, including 30 children, according to authorities.

“Our humanitarian partners on site also noted large-scale damage to civilian infrastructure,” Mr. Dujarric said.

“More than 90 residential buildings, a shopping centre and sports facilities, as well as two education facilities, were damaged by the attacks.”

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, condemned the repeated attacks. 

“Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law,” he said in statement.

Other areas under fire

Meanwhile, aid workers in Kharkiv mobilized immediately and provided medical and psychosocial support.

More than a dozen non-governmental organizations (NGOs) delivered repair materials and covered over 400 shattered windows during the past two days.

Humanitarians also noted that other parts of Ukraine – notably in Sumy and Donetsk regions and Kyiv, Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia areas – also suffered from deadly strikes and attacks over the weekend and Monday.