Civilian casualties among Ukrainians surge 20% in March - UK intelligence
Photo: Ukrainian civilian casualties increased by 20% in March (Getty Images)
According to the United Nations Monitoring Mission (UNMoM), 604 civilians were killed or injured in Ukraine in March 2024 as a result of hostile strikes, the UK Ministry of Defense reports.
The number of civilian casualties increased by 20% compared to the previous month (February - ed.). As noted above, the casualties are attributed to Russian missiles and air strikes, as well as an increase in the number of attacks on the front line.
“The report highlights the increased coordinated strikes on Ukrainian critical infrastructure with 20 destroyed or damaged sites,” the intelligence adds.
The report also notes the deaths of 57 children. This is twice as many as in the previous month and is directly related to Russia's use of aerial munitions.
According to the intelligence, since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, there have been 31,366 civilian casualties in Ukraine:
- 10,810 killed;
- 20,556 wounded.
Ukraine's air defense issue
Against the backdrop of escalating attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure, the issue of strengthening air defense has become a top priority. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously noted that 25 units of American Patriot air defense missile systems are enough to protect the sky.
According to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Berlin has identified 6 units of Patriot systems from its partners that could be sent to Ukraine.
Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds also said that his country is ready to provide Kyiv with a short-range air defense system.
