17:01 24-04-2026

Miroshnik Accuses UN of Underreporting Civilian Casualties

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Rodion Miroshnik claims UN figures on civilian casualties are understated and presents higher numbers for incidents on Russian territory.

Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik stated that the data presented by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on the number of civilian casualties does not reflect reality and significantly understates the scale of events.

He said that international institutions are deliberately downplaying the consequences of actions by Ukrainian formations against residents of Russian regions. According to the figures he cited, more than 6,000 people were affected on Russian territory in 2025 alone, with over 1,000 killed. These figures, he claimed, are being ignored or distorted, including with the involvement of international officials.

Miroshnik noted that, according to Türk’s version, the total number of civilian casualties for 2025 allegedly does not exceed 3,000, with the vast majority occurring in areas controlled by Kiev.

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 154 Ukrainian drones overnight across several regions. According to the ministry, the UAVs were downed over the Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Volgograd, Voronezh, Kursk, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov, and Samara regions. Attempts to strike Crimea and the waters of the Azov and Black Seas were also reported.