Senior UN official says Russia’s attack on Kharkiv shopping center was ‘completely unacceptable’
“I am appalled and shocked by the horrifying news coming from Kharkiv,” Ms. Brown said in a statement. “This afternoon, in broad daylight, as people – despite all the horrors they endure every day in this city – were trying to survive the day, their lives were shattered by an attack of the Russian Armed Forces. The attack targeted a busy shopping mall with many civilian casualties and extensive damage to civilian facilities.”
The senior UN official added that attacks by Russian forces targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure must stop, noting that intentionally directing an attack on Civilian infrastructure is strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law.
The strike is said to have occurred at home appliance store Epicentr K in the north of the city. In a post on social media, Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov described the incident as “pure terrorism”. The second attack on Saturday is believed to have caused about 12 casualties, according to UN sources.
Following Russia’s advances, the northeastern region of Kharkiv is now on the front lines of the war in Ukraine. According to a spokesperson for the United Nations Human Rights Office, some 35 civilians in the area have been killed and 137 injured since Russian armed forces launched cross-border attacks on May 10. ; More than half of those killed and injured were over 60 years old and unable or unwilling to leave their homes.
