At least 20 people were killed and more than 100 injured overnight in a new wave of strikes across Ukraine, the United Nations said on Wednesday.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine Matthias Schmale strongly condemned the attacks, which also damaged homes and critical civilian infrastructure, including health and educational facilities.
The eastern European country has been under constant attack since the full-scale invasion by Russian forces in February 2022.
"From Kharkiv in the east to Ternopil and the Ivano-Frankivsk Region in the west, families have lost loved ones, suffered injuries and seen their homes destroyed," he said in a statement.
At least a dozen children were among the wounded and "their suffering is unconscionable," he added.
Political affairs chief 'appalled'
UN human rights investigators are visiting the impacted sites to document the damage, according to a post on the social media platform X.
The UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, who is currently in Ukraine, added her voice to the condemnation.
Rosemary DiCarlo said she was "appalled" by the overnight assault.
"Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law. They are unacceptable and must end immediately," she tweeted .
Damage and disruption
The barrage of drones and missiles also damaged energy infrastructure, causing emergency power outages and worsening the effects of previous attacks.
Mr. Schmale warned that the disruptions are putting millions "at grave risk" as temperatures drop below zero in some areas of the country.
"This relentless harm to civilians and destruction of essential civilian infrastructure is unacceptable," he said, recalling that "international humanitarian law clearly prohibits attacks on civilians and civilian objects vital for their survival."
He stressed that all measures should be taken to protect civilians and "they should never be a target."
