Ukraine has accused Russian forces of firing at women and children trying to flee fighting near Kyiv. Seven people including a child died in this attack. These people had come after fleeing from Peremoha village. Ukrainian officials later said the convoy was not going through the ‘Green Corridor’ agreed with Russia when they were fired upon. Although it was earlier said from the Ukrainian side that these people were traveling on this corridor.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has reached its third week. Moscow has denied targeting civilians since its attack on Ukraine on February 24. It blames Ukraine for unsuccessful attempts to evacuate civilians from the cities. Ukraine and its Western allies have rejected Russia’s allegation.
Ukraine accused of violations of international humanitarian law
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on a phone call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron about violations of international humanitarian law by Ukrainian troops. Putin cited several facts of open violations of international humanitarian law by Ukrainian security forces. This includes taking civilians hostage and using them as shields, deploying heavy artillery in residential areas, etc.
1,581 civilian casualties since Russian invasion of Ukraine
The United Nations said on Saturday that there have been 1,581 civilian casualties since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The report said that of the 1,581 casualties, 579 people, including 42 children, were killed and 1,002 were injured, including 54 children. “The majority of civilian casualties were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide range of effects, including heavy artillery and multi-launch rocket systems and missiles and air strikes,” the UN report said.
About 1,300 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the fighting.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that about 1,300 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in fighting since the start of the Russian offensive. Zelensky said Russia would have to continue bombing and killing civilians, including its residential areas, if it wanted to capture the Ukrainian capital. The President said that if they continue to bomb selected places, including residential areas, and erase the historical memory of the entire region, they may enter Kyiv.