UN: "Over 600 Civilians Killed in Ukraine"... Growing Concerns Over Russia's Use of Nuclear Weapons

An elderly Ukrainian woman fleeing on an evacuation route riding a shopping cart.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] The United Nations announced on the 14th (local time) that the number of civilian deaths in Ukraine due to Russia's invasion has exceeded 600.

According to the UN Human Rights Office, from 4 a.m. on the 24th of last month, when the war began, until midnight on the same day, 636 civilians, including 46 children, have died in Ukraine. The number of injured is reported to be 1,125, including 62 children.

However, these figures do not fully reflect the situations in Kharkiv (Kharkov) and Mariupol, where fighting has occurred, so the actual number of deaths and injuries is estimated to be much higher.

Residential Complex in Mariupol, Ukraine Destroyed by Russian Indiscriminate Bombing
[Image Source=Yonhap News]

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that the number of refugees crossing the Ukrainian border into neighboring countries such as Poland has exceeded 2.8 million.

The UN also expressed concern about the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons. Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres stated on the day that Russia's intensified offensive against Ukraine "falls within the realm of possible nuclear weapon use." This is interpreted as a serious assessment of recent moves to strengthen the alert status of Russian nuclear forces.

He condemned the Russian military for civilian deaths and the destruction of civilian infrastructure occurring in Ukraine. However, he opposed calls to establish a no-fly zone over Ukrainian airspace, arguing that it could increase the risk of nuclear conflict.

Meanwhile, in Mariupol, a southern Ukrainian battleground that had been besieged by Russian forces for more than ten days, civilian evacuations took place for the first time on this day. The Mariupol City Council announced that about 160 vehicles left Mariupol through a humanitarian corridor. According to the city council, more than 2,500 civilians have been confirmed dead due to Russian military attacks in Mariupol so far.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.