UN Secretary-General Accuses Russia of Killing 136 Children

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has accused Russia of being responsible for the deaths of 136 children in Ukraine in 2022, as noted in the annual report on the situation of children in conflict zones. This report, reviewed by Reuters and France-Presse, also includes the Russian army on the list of global rights violators.

Guterres expressed that he was "particularly shocked" by the high number of children killed and disabled, as well as the attacks on schools and hospitals by the Russian military. The UN confirms that Russian armed forces and affiliated groups have also injured 518 children, used 91 children as human shields, and carried out 480 attacks on schools and hospitals.

He further emphasized his serious concern regarding the number of similar crimes against children by Ukrainian armed forces. According to the report, the Ukrainian military is responsible for the deaths of 80 children, injuring 175 children, and conducting 212 attacks on schools and hospitals. However, the Ukrainian armed forces are not included in the list of global rights violators.

The report focuses on the killing, disability, sexual violence, abductions, conscription of children, denial of aid, and attacks on schools and hospitals in conflict zones. It has been sent to the members of the UN Security Council, in which Russia has veto power and frequently uses it, and will be officially released next week, according to France-Presse.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in March for Russian President Vladimir Putin and children’s ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova for the unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine and illegal transportation of people from Ukraine to Russia.