The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office has announced the tragic death of 515 children and the injury of 1,182 others since the commencement of the Russian military operation in Ukraine in February 2022.
In a statement released today, Thursday, and reported by the Ukrainian news agency “Ukrin Form,” the office disclosed that over 1,697 children in Ukraine have been affected by the ongoing conflict.
The statement detailed that these children suffered varying degrees of injuries, with the majority of the fatalities and injuries occurring in the Donetsk region, accounting for 499 cases.
This was followed by 312 cases in Kharkiv, 130 in Kiev, and 143 in Kherson.
The office emphasized that these figures are not final, as efforts are ongoing to verify data received from conflict zones and areas under Russian control.
This alarming development underscores the devastating impact of the conflict on the most vulnerable members of society, highlighting the urgent need for increased international attention and efforts to protect civilians, especially children, in war-torn regions.
Russia and Ukraine announced on Wednesday the exchange of approximately 448 prisoners, marking the first official exchange between the two countries in several months.
This exchange comes amid escalating mutual attacks and complex negotiations, mediated by the United Arab Emirates.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated, “Following complex negotiations, 248 Russian military personnel were recovered from areas controlled by the Kiev government.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that “over 200 soldiers and civilians have returned from Russian captivity.”
Ukrainian Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubenets, reported that 230 Ukrainian soldiers were recovered in the “forty-ninth exchange” between Kiev and Moscow since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.
