An airstrike in Zaporizhzhia on Wednesday killed 13 civilians and injured 110 others, the deadliest in almost two years. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) said the incident underscored the serious threat to civilians posed by the use of aerial bombs in densely populated areas.
The incident took place on 8 January, when two aerial bombs struck an industrial facility in Zaporizhzhia. The HRMMU observed extensive damage to buildings and vehicles around the facility. The attack occurred at the end of the working day, resulting in a high number of casualties among workers and bystanders.
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Danielle Belle, Chief of the HRMMU, noted that glider bombs have become one of the biggest threats to civilians in cities along the frontline. In 2024, their use resulted in a 30 per cent increase in the number of fatalities compared to 2023. According to the HRMMU, the total number of civilian deaths and injuries in 2024 increased significantly due to the increased use of these weapons.
According to the mission, in 2024, aerial bombs killed 360 people and injured 1,861, a significant increase compared to the previous year. The use of glider bombs was recorded in Kharkiv, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia, where 35 people were killed and 308 injured in such attacks.
The HRMMU stresses that under international humanitarian law, parties to a conflict have an obligation to minimise harm to civilians. The use of aerial bombs in densely populated areas jeopardises compliance with these obligations.
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