UN Human Rights Chief Warns of Russia-Ukraine Escalation, Urges Return to Talks

JAKARTA - The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Thursday warned against further escalation between Russia and Ukraine amid recent threats by Moscow to intensify the attack.

"I strongly urge restraint. Continue negotiations and end the suffering," Turk said in a statement, launching Anadolu (28/5).

Turk further said that the "dangerous" escalation of hostilities had led to a sharp increase in civilian casualties, with the number of civilians killed or injured in Ukraine during the first four months of 2026 increasing by 21 percent compared to the same period in 2025.

According to UN figures, 815 civilians were killed and 4,174 injured between January and April this year, compared with 682 dead and 3,453 wounded a year earlier. Most of the victims occurred in areas controlled by Ukraine.

Turk highlighted several recent large-scale attacks, including an attack on a residential building in Kyiv on May 13-14 that killed 24 civilians and injured dozens of others.

He also referred to the Ukrainian attack on the educational complex in Starobilsk which was occupied on May 21-22. According to Russian authorities, 21 people were killed and 44 were injured.

The U.N. Human Rights Office said publicly available information indicates that civilians, including students, were among the victims.

"International humanitarian law requires that parties to a conflict take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm - this is not just advice or recommendations, but binding obligations that carry legal responsibility for those involved," Turk said.

"And as if all these casualty figures were not terrible enough, after these attacks, Russian officials openly threatened to increase attacks throughout Kyiv," he said.

The UN Human Rights Chief also condemned recent attacks by Russia on humanitarian personnel and material and called for an independent investigation into the deaths and injuries of civilians on both sides.

He also noted that attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces had killed and injured civilians inside Russia.

"I deplore the loss of civilian life and injuries suffered by civilians recently," Turk said, urging both sides to conduct "a prompt, independent, and effective investigation," and hold those responsible to account.