Title: War News | Today's Latest Stories | Reuters”>Ukraine War Death Toll Surpasses 12,000 Civilians; UN Warns of Escalating casualties
The United Nations (UN) has sounded the alarm on the escalating civilian death toll in Ukraine, with the number of fatalities since Russia’s invasion surpassing 12,340, a 30% increase over three months. This grim milestone was revealed by Nada Al-Nashi, deputy UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, during a Geneva meeting on January 8.
Al-Nashi reported that 12,340 civilians, including 650 children, have been killed, while another 27,836 have been injured. She noted the challenges in obtaining accurate figures amid active combat but stressed that available data clearly indicates a sharp increase in civilian casualties, posing a significant concern for international human rights agencies.
Russia’s military operations, including the intensifying use of drones and new weaponry, have exacerbated the situation. In November alone, Russia employed around 2,000 long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, exacerbating destruction in Ukraine. The use of rockets and guided aerial bombs between September and November 2022 resulted in 574 civilian deaths, a 30% rise compared to the same period in 2021.
Al-Nashi expressed profound concern over the disregard for civilian safety, stating, "The use of these weapons may constitute war crimes." The UN also reported continued destruction of residential buildings and critical infrastructure by Russian forces.
Previously, an International Commission of Inquiry within the UN published a comprehensive report detailing Russian war crimes in Ukraine and urged holding all perpetrators, regardless of their rank, accountable. Furthermore, a group of former Latin American ministers called for Russia’s exclusion from the UN General Assembly until the conflict’s resolution.
