'At Least 102 Civilians Killed in Ukraine': UN Human Rights Chief

The Ukrainian health ministry said that 352 civilians had been killed since Thursday, of which 14 were children.

Filippo Grandi, head of the UNHCR, put out a tweet on Monday saying that 500,000 people had fled Ukraine and entered into neighbouring countries as refugees since Russia invaded Ukraine. 

(Photo: Altered by The Quint) 

Addressing the Human Rights Council in Geneva, United Nations (UN) Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet said on Monday, 28 February, that at least 102 civilians had died and 304 had been injured in Ukraine since Russia invaded the country last week, Reuters reported.

However, she added that the actual toll was "considerably higher."

"Most of these civilians were killed by explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multi-launch rocket systems, and air strikes. The real figures are, I fear, considerably higher," Bachelet said.

The Ukrainian health ministry, on the other hand, had said on Sunday, 27 February, that 352 civilians had been killed since Thursday, February 24, of which 14 were children, per reports by Reuters.

'500,000 People Have Fled the Country'

Filippo Grandi, head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), put out a tweet on Monday saying that 500,000 people had fled Ukraine and entered into neighbouring countries as refugees since Russia invaded Ukraine.

The number of refugees reported to have fled the country by the UN has been increasing dramatically since last week.

According to the latest figures, 281,000 people have entered Poland, 84,500 Hungary, 36,400 Moldova, 32,500 Romania, and 30,000 Slovakia, UNHCR spokesperson Shabia Mantoo said, as per reports by AP.

5,300 Russian Soldiers Killed, Ukraine's Defence Ministry Claims

In a post on Facebook, Ukraine's defence ministry claimed that its armed forces had killed around 5,300 Russian troops, BBC reported.

The ministry also said that they had destroyed 191 tanks, 29 fighter jets, 29 helicopters and 816 armoured personnel carriers.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council voted to call for an emergency session of the UN General Assembly on Monday to discuss Russia's actions against Ukraine.

While 11 nations voted in favour of the meet, India, China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) abstained, and Russia voted against the motion.

A Ukrainian delegation commenced border talks with Russian representatives at the Belarusian border on Monday in an effort to end the war.

(With inputs from Reuters, BBC and AP.)