AS SUMMER BEGINS, CIVILIANS BEAR THE DEVASTATING COST OF WAR

The early days of summer in Ukraine are marked by yet another large-scale massive attack by the Russian Federation Armed Forces on Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv—for the third time over the past three weeks.

Several civilians are reported dead, and scores more, including several children, are injured. Homes, hospitals and shops have been destroyed or damaged.

Instead of enjoying the start of the school summer break, children and their families spent the night in underground shelters, woken up by air raid sirens, explosions and uncertainty. The war continues to take a devastating toll on civilians and their mental health, as they have no respite, and fear and anxiety build up amid the anticipation of the next attacks across the country.

Adhering to international humanitarian law means taking all measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and homes. The Russian Federation's inflammatory rhetoric and escalation of attacks should stop, paving the way for a just peace.