FOR MILLIONS ACROSS UKRAINE, LIFE IS INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS

Recent weeks have seen relentless attacks by the Russian Federation Armed Forces across Ukraine, killing and injuring scores of civilians, including children. Homes, schools, health facilities, businesses and other civilian infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed in Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia, among other cities and regions.

Daily life is becoming increasingly dangerous for civilians at any time of the day. Going to school, commuting to work, shopping, seeking health care, or spending time at home is, more often than not, no longer as safe as it should be.

Today, strikes hit a medical centre and set the Academy of Sciences building ablaze in the centre of Kyiv, trapping people inside. A business centre was hit in Dnipro City, causing civilian casualties. 

For many families, hours-long air alerts, explosions, sheltering and disruption now shape daily life. Children spend hours away from their classrooms, while communities face repeated uncertainty, fear and loss.

We must not allow violence, disruption and fear to become the accepted reality of everyday life.

Full respect for international humanitarian law demands that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected and spared from attacks.