UN rights chief urges urgent action to end Russia-Ukraine war

October 2, 2026 at 07:26 PM2 min

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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for urgent action to end the Russia-Ukraine war during the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council. He cited a UN report documenting over 1,000 cases of conflict-related sexual violence, 89% attributed to Russian authorities. Türk confirmed 15,280 civilian casualties in Ukraine in the first eight months of 2026, a 55% increase over the same period in 2025.

Key Facts

UN High Commissioner Volker Türk called for urgent action to end the Russia-Ukraine war during the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council.
A UN report documented over 1,000 cases of conflict-related sexual violence, with 89% attributed to Russian authorities and 11% to the Ukrainian side.
The UN confirmed 15,280 civilian deaths or injuries in Ukraine in the first eight months of 2026, a 55% increase over the same period in 2025.
Russian authorities reported 3 killed and 41 wounded in a large-scale missile and drone attack on Moscow on the night of September 20.

Sexual Violence Findings

The UN Human Rights Office documented over 1,000 cases of sexual violence against civilians and prisoners of war. Of these cases, 89% were attributed to Russian authorities and 11% to the Ukrainian side. Türk described the scale of sexual violence as shocking and called for accountability.

Civilian Casualties

In the first eight months of 2026, the UN confirmed approximately 15,280 civilian deaths or injuries in Ukraine. This figure represents an average of more than 400 casualties per week over 34 weeks. The number is 55% higher than in the same period of 2025. Russian authorities reported 3 killed and 41 wounded in a missile and drone attack on Moscow on September 20, but the UN could not verify these figures due to lack of access.

Call for Negotiations

Türk emphasized the vital importance of regaining momentum for negotiations to end the war. He stated that this process requires confidence-building measures that reduce the impact of hostilities on civilians and are shaped on the basis of human rights.