The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) says it has confirmed the deaths of almost 8,500 civilians since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, and believes the toll could be thousands higher.
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The OHCRH said in an updated report published on April 11 that 8,490 civilians have been killed and 14,244 injured since Russia launched its invasion on February 24, 2022, until April 9, 2023.
"OHCHR believes that the actual figures are considerably higher, as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration," the UN agency said in a statement.
"This concerns, for example, Mariupol (Donetsk region), Lysychansk, Popasna, and Syevyerodonetsk (Luhansk region), where there are allegations of numerous civilian casualties."
The statement said that, in total, 18,280 casualties -- 6,596 killed and 11,684 injured -- occurred in territory controlled by Ukraine's government that was under attack by Russian forces. Another 4,454 casualties -- 1,894 killed and 2,560 injured -- occurred in Ukrainian territory occupied by the Russia.
The UN said it had confirmed 7,011 civilian deaths and 13,495 injured due to shelling, artillery, and air attacks, though "actual numbers are considerably higher."
Russian troops have been accused of shelling cities and towns in many regions under Ukrainian control, causing numerous civilian deaths and injuries, repeatedly damaging energy infrastructure, and leaving large areas without electricity during the winter months.
Moscow has repeatedly denied targeting civilians since the start of its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, despite air attacks often hitting hospitals, residential buildings, schools, and other civilian infrastructure.
Earlier this month, the UN Human Rights Council overwhelmingly voted in favor of extending and expanding the mandate of an investigative body probing possible war crimes committed during the invasion.