Volker Turk calls on Russia and Ukraine to de-escalate conflict

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called on Russia and Ukraine to de-escalate the conflict, to ensure the protection of the civilian population and to respect international law.

“Alarming escalation of hostilities, dozens of civilians killed in Ukraine and Russia. International humanitarian law prohibits indiscriminate attacks and attacks against civilian objects,” the Office of the U.N High Commissioner for Human Rights said in an X post, quoting Turk as saying this.

Ukraine and Russia have been making massive strikes into each other’s territories recently. As for Ukraine, capital Kyiv and Kharkiv have mostly come under fire, while on the Russian side, the major target has been Belgorod Oblast. The Ukrainian side claims the missile attack on Belgorod was in retaliation for the major Russian attack on Kyiv in late December. The death toll from the Dec. 30 attack on Belgorod has reached 24; over 100 have been injured.

In the Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine on Dec. 29, a missile fell on the Kharkiv Palace hotel in Kharkiv, injuring two of the seven members of the camera crew of ZDF, a German public-service television broadcaster.