Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Ukraine, Vladimir Putin, Russia
Poppy Bilderbeck
Nearly 200 people have been killed and 1,000 wounded since Russia invaded Ukraine, according to reports.
Health Minister of Ukraine, Viktor Lyashko, has said that since Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops across the border on February 24, 198 people have been killed.
Lyashko also claimed three children are among the fatalities.
Despite Putin saying only the military would be targeted, a total of 1,115 people have been wounded so far in the invasion, of which 33 are reportedly children, Metro reports. It is currently unclear if the casualties include civilian as well as military personnel.
In an address this morning, Febryar 26, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is in control of 'key points around' the capital of Kyiv, Sky News report.
Advert
'We are successfully holding back the enemy's attack. We know that we are defending our land and the future of our children.
Kyiv and the key areas are controlled by our army. Occupiers wanted to set up their puppets in our capital. They didn't succeed.'
Ukraine has been hit with a series of missile strikes and attacks, though the country's military claims the Russian Federation Armed Forces have suffered the 'worst number of fatalities in its entire existence'.
Russian troops have subsequently been accused of 'indiscriminate attacks' by Amnesty International, after 10 were left wounded and four other civilians killed as a result of a missile strike on a hospital building in Vuhledar, a city located in the east.
According to the UN, as of February 25, Russia had coordinated a total of 33 attacks on civilian sites. According to reports, more than 450 Russian troops had also been killed.
Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International's Secretary General, stated: 'The Russian military has shown a blatant disregard for civilian lives by using ballistic missiles and other explosive weapons with wide-area effects in densely populated areas.
‘Some of these attacks may be war crimes. The Russian government, which falsely claims to use only precision-guided weapons, should take responsibility for these acts.'
Callamard has called Russia's invasion a 'violation of the laws of war'. 'The continuation of the use of ballistic missiles and other inaccurate explosive weapons causing civilian deaths and injuries is inexcusable,' she concluded.
Callamard has called Russia's invasion a 'violation of the laws of war'. 'The continuation of the use of ballistic missiles and other inaccurate explosive weapons causing civilian deaths and injuries is inexcusable,' she concluded.
Although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly turned down the US's offer to help him evacuate the country, and has been posting videos from Kyiv, calling for Ukraine to join the EU, and for 'friends' to come to the country to help defend against the Russian invasion.
While sanctions are being imposed on Russia by the West, a number of organisations have since been listed for people to offer support to those in need.
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information