The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, on Sunday (6/4) condemned Russia's deadly missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih.
Turk described the attack as an unimaginable horror that killed civilians, including children, in residential areas.
Ukrainian authorities say at least 19 people were killed and 75 others injured when a Russian missile hit a neighborhood in Kryvyi Rih, located in the Dnipropetrovsk region, on Friday night.
“This is an unimaginable horror — nine children were killed, most of them while playing in a park, when military weapons exploded and shattered on top of them,” Turk said in a statement issued by his office.
“A single explosion ended 18 lives on a warm Friday evening in Kryvyi Rih, as families gathered near playgrounds, restaurants and residential buildings,” he added.
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed responsibility for what it called a “high-precision strike,” alleging the missile targeted a restaurant where a meeting between Ukrainian unit commanders and Western instructors was taking place.
However, Turk rejected Moscow's justification, saying the UN Human Rights Office had verified many casualties and was still gathering information.
According to the statement, witnesses told UN investigators that an industry forum was taking place at the restaurant shortly before the attack and that no military personnel were present in the area.
“All witnesses reported no military presence at the restaurant or in the surrounding area at the time of the attack,” the statement said, adding that the incident could be considered an indiscriminate attack under international law, even if there was a suspicion of a military target.
Turk called for a prompt, thorough and independent investigation into the attack, stressing the urgent need to protect civilians in the ongoing conflict.
The city of Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has been repeatedly targeted in Russia's war on Ukraine, now entering its third year.
Source: Anadolu
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