Civilians killed in drone strike in eastern Ukraine: UN rights monitors
A drone strike in eastern Ukraine on Saturday could possibly be the deadliest in recent weeks, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in the country, HRMMU, has said.
At least nine people were killed and seven injured when a Russian drone struck a minibus near the town of Bilopillia in the Sumy region, according to local authorities.
HRMMU monitors are in the process of gathering additional information on the circumstances of the attack and its victims.
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Preliminary reports suggest that the minibus was carrying civilian evacuees from an area close to the frontline, the majority of whom were women.
‘A stark reminder’
“With nine civilians reported killed, this would be the deadliest attack in weeks,” said Danielle Bell, Head of HRMMU.
“This is a stark reminder that civilians continue to be killed and injured on a daily basis across Ukraine.”
If confirmed, the strike would represent the deadliest attack since 24 April, when at least 11 civilians were killed and 81 injured in the capital, Kyiv.
HRMMU said that while the number of civilian casualties in May has been somewhat lower than in April, it continues to document daily civilian casualties, particularly along the frontline.
Activists under attack
Meanwhile, UN Women is mourning one of the victims of the attack, who was killed alongside her husband.
Olena Yevtushenko was an active member of a women’s self-help group in Bilopillia which the agency supports. She was also a teacher and the director of a centre for teacher development under the city council.
Bilopillia is located some 11 kilometres from the border with Russia and women there “have stood strong and resilient despite daily attacks, creating socio-economic initiatives to advance women’s empowerment in their community, support the displaced and prevent gender-based violence,” UN Women’s Office in Ukraine said in a tweet.
“Attacks are killing activists in Ukraine who are helping their neighbours to survive the war and plan for the future. These attacks cannot be left unpunished.”
