The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Edited News , Press Conferences | OHCHR , UNOG
Ukraine: UN rights chief condemns deadly strike in Hroza - OHCHR
“The appalling scenes from the village of Hroza in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine underscores once again the terrible price civilians are paying 20 months after Russia’s invasion.
According to the local authorities, 52 people were killed when what appeared to be a Russian missile struck a café in the village, where people had gathered for a wake,” Throssell said.
So far, our colleagues in the Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) have established the names of 27 people who were killed – 15 women and 12 men, and of three women and one man who were injured. One Ukrainian soldier who was attending his father’s funeral was among those killed, according to the authorities.
“What is clear is that the strike is one of the deadliest since 24 February 2022 but of course far from being the only one. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, who saw for himself the horrific impact of such strikes, is profoundly shocked and condemns this act. He has deployed a field team to the site to speak to survivors and gather more information,” she said.
“Before the Russian invasion, the village’s population was about 300. It is not clear how many residents were still living there, but it is clear that with the high number of people killed, everybody in this small community has been affected. We know at least eight families had more than one relative killed in the attack,” the spokesperson said.
“We stress once again that international humanitarian law, in particular the rules on conduct of hostilities must be strictly respected,” she said.
ENDS
For more information and media requests, please contact:
In Geneva
Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or
Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org or
Jeremy Laurence + +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org or
Tag and share
Twitter @UNHumanRights
Facebook unitednationshumanrights
Instagram @unitednationshumanrights
- Exterior shot: Palais des Nations, Geneva.
- Soundbite (English)— Liz Throssell UN Human Rights Spokesperson, (OHCHR): “The appalling scenes from the village of Hroza in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine underscores once again the terrible price civilians are paying 20 months after Russia’s invasion. According to the local authorities, 52 people were killed when what appeared to be a Russian missile struck a café in the village, where people had gathered for a wake,”
- Cutaways: Briefing room
- Soundbite (English)— Liz Throssell UN Human Rights Spokesperson, (OHCHR): “What is clear is that the strike is one of the deadliest since 24 February 2022 but of course far from being the only one. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, who saw for himself the horrific impact of such strikes, is profoundly shocked and condemns this act. He has deployed a field team to the site to speak to survivors and gather more information.”
- Cutaways: Briefing room
- Soundbite (English)— Liz Throssell UN Human Rights Spokesperson, (OHCHR): “Before the Russian invasion, the village’s population was about 300. It is not clear how many residents were still living there, but it is clear that with the high number of people killed, everybody in this small community has been affected. We know at least eight families had more than one relative killed in the attack.”
- Soundbite (English)— Liz Throssell UN Human Rights Spokesperson, (OHCHR): “We stress once again that international humanitarian law, in particular the rules on conduct of hostilities must be strictly respected,”
- Soundbite (English)— Liz Throssell UN Human Rights Spokesperson, (OHCHR): “
Cutaways: Briefing room
Cutaways: Briefing room
Cutaways: Briefing room
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | UNITED NATIONS
United Nations agencies staff demonstrate on Place des Nations in Geneva, to denounce their colleagues killed in Gaza since October 2023
1
1
1
Edited News | WMO
The world’s water resources face growing pressure from climate change while emergencies related to the vital resource are increasingly impacting lives and livelihoods, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday.
1
2
1
Press Conferences | WMO
WMO State of Global Water Resources Report 2024
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OHCHR
Impact of unilateral coercive measures on economic, labour and social rights
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk addressed the Human Rights Council during a meeting on the Israeli strike on negotiators in Qatar on Tuesday. “Israel’s strike on negotiators in Doha on 9 September was a shocking breach of international law, an assault on regional peace and stability, and a blow against the integrity of mediation and negotiating processes around the world,” he said.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF
Gaza: Thirsty and starving, war-battered families face ‘inhumane’ evacuation
As bombs continue to fall on Gaza City as part of the intensifying Israeli military operation, families with starving children are being pushed southwards from one “hellscape” to another, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IOM , UNICEF
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations Children’s Fund and the International Organization for Migration.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC , UNOG
Latest report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OHCHR
Press briefing: Human rights situation in Gaza and across the occupied Palestinian territory
1
2
1
Press Conferences | UNIDIR
Launch of the Cluster Munition Monitor 2025 report
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
New UN Human Rights report finds 10 years of increased suffering repression and fear
The UN Human Rights Office on Friday published a report on the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) since 2014.
1
1
2
Edited News | UNICEF , UNHCR
The ongoing humanitarian response to the devastating Afghanistan earthquake disaster continued on Friday, although essential services have been cut for operational reasons following reinforced Taliban restrictions on women working with the UN, the global body said.