War in Ukraine has left nearly 1,000 children killed or injured

UNICEF says no fewer than 1,000 boys and girls have been killed or injured in the war in Ukraine, underscoring the urgent need for peace.

“Once again, as in all wars, the reckless decisions of adults are putting children at extreme risk,’’ UNICEF’s Executive Director Catherine Russell stated on Monday.

“There are no armed operations of this kind that do not result in children being harmed,’’ she added.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine began nearly six months ago and UNICEF has verified that at least 972 children have been killed or injured in the violence.

This represents an average of more than five children a day.

“We believe the true number to be much higher,’’ Russell stressed.

She said most child casualties resulted from the use of explosive weapons, which do not discriminate between civilians and combatants.

This is more so in populated areas, as has been the case in cities such as Mariupol, Luhansk, Kremenchuk, Vinnytsia, and elsewhere, she added.