GENEVA - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Thursday warned against a further escalation in hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, amid the latest threats by Russia to further ramp up attacks. He urged both parties to return to the negotiating table.
"I strongly urge restraint. Resume negotiations and end the suffering," he said.
A dangerous escalation of hostilities has resulted in high numbers of civilian casualties.
In the first four months of 2026, the number of civilians killed or injured in Ukraine was 21 per cent higher than in the same period in 2025 (815 killed; 4,174 injured in 2026 compared with 682 killed; 3,453 injured in 2025). The vast majority of the casualties occurred in territory controlled by Ukraine.
In one of several large-scale attacks launched by Russia in recent weeks resulting in substantial numbers of civilian casualties, a multi-storey residential building in Kyiv was struck on 13-14 May, killing 24 civilians and injuring dozens.
"International humanitarian law demands that parties to a conflict take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm - these are not simply suggestions or recommendations, but binding obligations carrying legal responsibility for those involved."
In a significant attack by Ukrainian armed forces, an educational complex in occupied Starobilsk was struck on 21-22 May. According to Russian authorities, 21 people were killed and 44 injured. The UN Human Rights Office has conducted a thorough review of publicly-available information, which indicates that the educational facilities were operational at the time of the attack and that civilians - many of them students - were killed or injured. Among those killed, 18 were women.
"And as if all these casualty figures weren't horrifying enough on their own, following these attacks, Russian officials have publicly threatened to increase attacks across Kyiv," said the High Commissioner.
Attacks by Ukrainian armed forces have also killed and injured civilians within Russia itself.
"I deplore the recent loss of civilian lives and injuries to civilians. I call on Russian and Ukrainian authorities to conduct prompt, independent, and effective investigations and hold those responsible accountable. They must do their utmost to prevent similar incidents from happening again," the UN Human Rights Chief said.
Türk also condemned attacks by the Russian Federation against humanitarian personnel and material in recent weeks.
