UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s remarks during the Human Rights Council Interactive Dialogue on Ukraine

“Today is a day of mourning in Kyiv. Russia’s horrifying attack in the early hours of Thursday killed at least 30 civilians and injured at least 99 more. It is one of the deadliest attacks on Kyiv city since the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and yet another tragic reminder of why this senseless war must end,” he said.

“Instead of moving closer towards peace, civilians are enduring more destruction, pain and suffering,” said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“Between 1 December 2025 and 31 May 2026, my Office verified that at least 1,270 civilians were killed and 6,850 injured in Ukraine. This represents a 40 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. The real toll is likely higher,” he stated.

He deplored the spike in the Russian Federation’s use of long-range weapons and drones. For example, he noted, on 13 and 14 May, Russian armed forces launched more than 1,500 drones and missiles across eight regions of Ukraine and Kyiv city, killing 27 civilians and injuring at least 83.

There have also been civilian casualties in territory occupied by the Russian Federation, he added, noting that On 22 May, 21 civilians were killed and others injured when an educational complex was struck in occupied Starobilsk in Luhansk region during an attack in the city by Ukrainian armed forces.

“Russian authorities have reported that between 1 December 2025 and 31 May 2026, 205 civilians were killed and 1,302 injured in 27 regions in the Russian Federation. My Office has not been able to verify these casualties. I repeat my call to the Russian authorities to facilitate access by my Office for independent verification,” he said.

The High Commissioner also decried executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war.

“Since mid-November 2025, my Office has verified that Russian forces have executed at least 20 captured Ukrainian servicemen. During the reporting period, my Office interviewed 129 released Ukrainian prisoners of war. Virtually all of them provided detailed accounts of torture or other ill-treatment during their captivity, including sexual violence,” said Türk.

“Around half the prisoners of war captured by Ukraine interviewed by my Office described torture or other ill-treatment, predominantly in transit facilities before transfer to official detention facilities. The prohibition of torture is absolute. The use of torture against prisoners of war must end immediately, and those responsible must be held to account,” he said.

He also condemned the Russian Federation’s attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Between October 2025 and March 2026, Russian armed forces systematically and repeatedly targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure, particularly facilities providing heating for urban areas, as temperatures dropped.

“The scale and scope of the Russian Federation’s attacks suggest they were intended to disable Ukraine’s energy network as a whole, rather than strike specific military objectives. Treating Ukraine’s entire energy infrastructure as a military objective is incompatible with international humanitarian law,” he said.

“Ukrainian armed forces also attacked electricity and heating infrastructure in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation on at least seven occasions so far this year, causing temporary outages, according to Russian authorities. My Office could not fully verify the damage or the impact of these attacks on civilians,” headded.

“I urge renewed efforts to negotiate a sustainable peace, grounded in human rights and in line with the United Nations Charter, international law, and General Assembly resolutions.

Accountability for all these horrific violations is essential. Protecting human rights is key to building the trust and confidence required for any sustainable peace and can provide a vital opening for meaningful dialogue. This war is cutting deep physical and psychological wounds. Human rights need to guide efforts to secure lasting peace,” said the High Commissioner.

ENDS

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