The U.N. human rights chief says Russian strikes plunge millions into hardship

According to U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk volker_turk, Russian strikes on critical infrastructure in Ukraine since October have killed at least 77 civilians and pushed millions into extreme hardship.

He said in a statement, “Millions are being plunged into extreme hardship and appalling conditions of life by these strikes.” He added, “Taken as a whole, this raises serious problems under international humanitarian law, which requires a concrete and direct military advantage for each object attacked.”

In the same statement, he said the United Nations’ preliminary analysis of videos purportedly showing Ukrainian soldiers executing Russian prisoners of war indicated they were “highly likely to be authentic.”