Russian civilian casualties were highlighted by Moscow on Friday after the Russian Foreign Ministry claimed that 38 civilians were killed in Ukrainian attacks during the past week. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the casualties included one child, while hundreds of others were affected by the reported strikes.
According to Zakharova, a total of 308 civilians were impacted by attacks that Russia attributed to Ukrainian forces. She stated that 38 people lost their lives and another 270 were injured, including eight children, during the reporting period.
The Russian official alleged that the attacks targeted civilian populations and critical infrastructure. She claimed that Ukrainian forces had intensified operations against non-military areas in recent days, leading to increased civilian losses.
Zakharova further accused the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of escalating attacks in an effort to demonstrate the effectiveness of Western military assistance. She argued that the campaign was intended to secure additional military support from Ukraine’s international allies.
Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine of carrying out strikes against civilian infrastructure, while Kyiv has consistently rejected allegations of deliberately targeting civilians. Ukrainian authorities maintain that their military operations are directed at legitimate military objectives in accordance with international law.
The latest claims come as fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces continues across several frontlines, with both sides reporting casualties and damage. Independent verification of battlefield claims from either side remains difficult because of the ongoing conflict.
The reported figures were released by Russia’s Foreign Ministry and have not been independently verified. The conflict continues to generate humanitarian concerns, with international organizations repeatedly calling for the protection of civilians and renewed diplomatic efforts to reduce violence.
