UN Human Rights Chief Calls Russian Missile Attack That Kills 19 Unimaginable Horrors

The impact of the Russian attack on Ukraine/DOK PHOTO via Instagram @zelenskyy_official

JAKARTA - The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, on Sunday condemned Russia's deadly missile strike in the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih.

Turk described the attack as an unimaginable horror that killed civilians, including children, in residential areas.

Ukrainian authorities said at least 19 people were killed and 75 others injured when a Russian missile hit an environment in Kryvyi Rih, located in the Dnipropxisk region, on Friday night.

"This is an unimaginable horror -- nine children were killed, mostly while playing in the park, when military weapons exploded and became debris above them," Turk said in a statement issued by his office quoted by Anadolu via Antara, Monday, April 7.

One explosion ended 18 lives on a warm Friday night in Kryvyi Rih, as families gathered near playgrounds, restaurants and residential buildings. He added.

Russia's Ministry of Defense claims responsibility for the so-called high-precision attacks, accusing the missile of targeting a restaurant where the meeting took place between Ukrainian unit commanders and instructors from the West is taking place.

However, Turk rejected Moscow's justification, saying the United Nations Human Rights Office had verified many casualties and was still gathering information.

According to the statement, eyewitnesses told UN investigators that an industrial forum was underway at the restaurant shortly before the attack took place and no military personnel were present in the area.

All witnesses said there was no military presence in the restaurant or in the area around the time the attack occurred, read the statement, adding the incident could be considered an indiscriminate attack under international law, even if there were suspicions of a military target.

Turk called for a swift, thorough, and independent investigation into the attack, stressing the urgent need to protect civilians in the ongoing conflict.

The city of Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has repeatedly been targeted in Russia's war on Ukraine which is now entering its third year.