Robert Besser
12 May 2022, 21:04 GMT+10
GENEVA, Switzerland: Matilda Bogner, head of the United Nations human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine, has warned that the number of civilian deaths in Ukraine is thousands higher than the official figure of 3,381, with fatalities in the port city of Mariupol alone adding significantly to the total.
During a press briefing in Geneva, Bogner said, "We have been working on estimates, but all I can say for now is that it is thousands higher than the numbers we have currently given to you."
"The big black hole is really Mariupol, where it has been difficult for us to fully access and to get fully corroborated information," she added.
The warning came as the UN migration agency said 8 million people were internally displaced within Ukraine by the conflict.
Officials also said that dozens of additional bodies were discovered in Izium, Kharkiv region.
In a social media message announcing the deaths, Oleh Synehubov, head of Kharkiv's regional administration, said, "This is another horrible war crime of the Russian occupiers against the civilian population."
The latest phase of the war seemed to have settled into a grim back and forth struggle over villages and small towns destroyed by shelling, as both Ukrainian and Russian military officials claimed advances in the battle for the country's south and east, dominated by a 300-mile-long frontline.
While assessments by western defense and intelligence officials, as well as military analysts, focused on Russia's operational failures and heavy losses in men and equipment, there is little evidence of an end in sight for Moscow's invasion.
Get a daily dose of Irish Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Irish Sun.
More InformationBRUSSELS, Belgium: Negotiations on a free trade agreement between the European Union and New Zealand ended successfully this week, paving ...
CAIRO, Egypt: Egyptian authorities have prohibited swimming in a stretch of the Red Sea after an Australian woman was killed ...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Bette Nash, age 86, has been named the longest serving flight attendant in the world, ...
LONDON, England: A UK parliamentary committee has told lawmakers that they may not bring babies to parliamentary proceedings and debates.The ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: Hershel "Woody" Williams, the final surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War Two, has died at a ...
SEATTLE, Washington: A Norwegian cruise liner has canceled its sailing and returned to port after damage was discovered following its ...
BRUSSELS, Belgium: Negotiations on a free trade agreement between the European Union and New Zealand ended successfully this week, paving ...
DELFT, Netherlands: IKEA officials said this week that the furniture retailer's warehouses in Europe are as full as they were ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has said that since the U.S. and its allies imposed sanctions on Moscow ...
LONDON, England: A second referendum on Scottish independence is set to be held in October 2023. The Scottish government, led ...
BERLIN, Germany: A German Interior Ministry spokesperson has said that in a bid to relieve airports overwhelmed by staff shortages ...
PARIS, France: In a written statement made this week confirming a report from broadcaster RTL, France's energy ministry said the ...