At Least 2,406 Children Killed or Injured in 1,000 Days of War in Ukraine: UNICEF

New York: At least 2,406 children have been killed or injured since escalation of war in Ukraine nearly 1,000 days ago, according to latest available verified reports, UNICEF said in a statement on Monday.

In dition to child casualties, which include 659 children killed and 1,747 children injured - amounting to at least 16 children killed or injured every week - millions of children continue to have ir lives upended due to ongoing attacks.

UNICEF furr said that children are enduring relentless hostilities, prolonged displacement and severe shortages of essential resources including safe water, electricity, and or necessities. Escalating attacks on Ukrainian territory have sharply increased civilian casualties and infrastructure damage since July this year.

" toll on children is staggering and unacceptable," said UNICEF Executive Director Carine Russell. "Children have been killed in ir beds, in hospitals and playgrounds, leaving families devastated by loss of young lives or life-altering injuries."

UNICEF furr said that attacks have severely disrupted water, heating and electricity services. Between March 22 and August 31 this year, attacks on energy infrastructure across Ukraine destroyed nine gigawatts (GW) of electricity generation capacity. This is equivalent to half of what Ukraine needs during winter months.

"Millions of children are living in constant fear, many spending an equivalent of up to six hours a day sheltering in basements under air raid sirens. Without continued and increased support for children, psychological wounds of this war will echo through generations," Russell said.

In frontline regions, nearly three million people are in dire need of warmth, safe water, and healthcare, as schools and hospitals continue to be targeted. Over past 1000 days, at least 1,496 educational institutions and 662 health facilities have been damaged or destroyed, according to UN data.

Approximately 1.7 million children are without safe water, and 3.4 million lack access to centralised sanitation, heightening ir risk of disease amid plummeting temperatures.

"Schools, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure are not just physical buildings; y are lifelines and symbols of hope for children's recovery and resilience," said Russell. "Ukraine's children must be protected from lasting horrors of this war. world cannot be silent while y suffer," he ded.

Earlier in day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russia's latest large-scale attack on Ukraine, which saw 210 missiles and drones target critical civilian infrastructure, resulting in fatalities, including children.

Sharing a post on X, Zelenskyy wrote, "This morning began with one of largest Russian strikes on Ukraine. 210 missiles and drones, including aeroballistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as dozens of Shahed drones, were launched. All of m targeted civilian infrastructure--critical facilities like power plants and transformers."

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy h also stressed need for a decisive action from global community, particularly as G20 leers meet, urging m "not to turn a blind eye to Russia's continued terror."

In a post on X, Zelenskyy said, "se days, leers of G20 are meeting. entire world needs m not to turn a blind eye to Russia's continued terror. Only when world reacts decisively can situation change. Russia has involved North Korea in its war--and reaction has been weak. 

Russia has continued its terror for nearly 1,000 days--and world's decisions are still delayed. Two years ago, at G20 Summit, Ukraine presented Peace Formula--a clear path to ending this war. Yet it has not been implemented. time to act is now. G20 cannot afford weakness or indifference. It must rise decisively to this challenge."