Danielle Bell

Russia has unlawfully imposed discriminatory policies in the occupied territory of Ukraine, causing residents to flee and preventing their return - new @UNHumanRights report finds. Deportations and discriminatory policies target those deemed disloyal but also specific groups based on their nationality, political opinion, cultural identity, religious affiliation or sexual orientation. 🔗bit.ly/3Nuk67u

Glad to continue my regular exchanges with Danielle Bell, Head of @UNHumanRightsUA, who shared grim updates from #Ukraine. Ending ongoing human suffering caused by Russia’s war—including attacks on civilian infrastructure and drone strikes—must remain a top international priority.

Tomorrow marks four years since #Russia’s full-scale invasion of #Ukraine. Four interminable and agonizing years. Civilian casualties have soared; Russia’s systematic attacks on Ukraine’s energy & water infrastructure could amount to int'l crimes. The fighting needs to end & I urge a focus on human rights and justice in any ceasefire or peace agreement. — UN Human Rights Chief @volker_turk at the opening of the 61st session of UN Human Rights Council @UN_HRC. ohchr.org/en/statements-…

I spoke to students at Sciences Po on moral ambition in a driverless world. Watch full speech if you want my proposals on how we fight back for solidarity and humanity. bit.ly/4aIBdKa Part 3: How does the UN fight back? 👇

Systematic Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in January – and continuing into February – left millions without electricity, heating, and water during sub‑zero temperatures. “When power, heating, and water are repeatedly knocked out in the dead of winter, basic survival becomes a daily struggle,” said Danielle Bell, Head of our Mission. We visited warming tents, hospitals, and schools to document the impact on civilians. 🔗 bit.ly/4auNVvR

Russia’s continued systematic attacks on Ukraine’s energy and heating infrastructure left millions facing freezing temperatures with severe electricity, heating and water outages. Strikes damaged energy facilities in 17 regions and Kyiv, leaving many with no heat and millions with only hours of electricity — or none — in sub‑zero cold. In January, 161 civilians were killed and 757 injured. bit.ly/4auNVvR

Another massive Russian overnight attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure left hundreds of thousands in Kyiv without heat, some lost water & power. 1 civilian was reportedly killed, 5 injured. Kharkiv & Kyiv region also hit, with dozens injured, Chernihiv city almost fully without electricity. @UNHumanRights Chief condemned these attacks earlier bit.ly/4bA5zRp

Russia’s cruel attacks on Ukraine’s energy systems are freezing older people in their homes and closing schools. I urge the Russian Federation to cease these attacks immediately. My statement: ohchr.org/en/press-relea…

#Ukraine: Overnight, another large-scale attack struck energy infrastructure in Kyiv and Lviv, with reports of civilians killed and hundreds of thousands of residents in Kyiv left without electricity. Many are also without water and heating. This comes two days after an attack that damaged energy infrastructure in the Dnipropetrovsk region, causing power outages across entire cities. These attacks follow a pattern of significantly increased strikes targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, documented by our office over the past four months. With temperatures forecast to drop to –20°C, these attacks place people - particularly vulnerable groups - at serious risk. Attacks on energy infrastructure must stop immediately.

A night of massive attacks in #Kyiv reportedly injured more than a dozen civilians and left thousands of homes and schools without heating and electricity during freezing weather. Civilians and civilian infrastructure are #NotATarget.

#KeyFindingsFromReport: Our new report shows a significant escalation in civilian harm in Ukraine. From 1 June to 30 November 2025, 1,420 civilians were killed and 6,545 injured - a 37% increase compared with the previous 6 months. The vast majority of casualties occurred in Government-controlled territory. Read Full Report: bit.ly/4a5prLo

#Ukraine: As #Russia’s full-scale invasion nears its 4th year, civilians continue to endure near-daily attacks & growing hardship. A new @UNHumanRights report highlights several worrying trends: rising civilian casualties in both frontline & urban areas, sustained attacks on energy infrastructure, & continued patterns of systematic & widespread torture & ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war & civilian detainees. ➡️ ukraine.ohchr.org/en/Rising-Civi…

I strongly condemn Russia’s large-scale missile & drone strikes on several Ukrainian regions. Attacks against civilians & civilian infrastructure are unacceptable & must end immediately. I reiterate my call for an immediate & unconditional ceasefire, as a first step towards a just, comprehensive & sustainable peace that fully upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence & territorial integrity.

“Torture is never justified.” Danielle Bell, Head of @UNHumanRights Mission in #Ukraine, discusses our latest report on civilian detentions documenting widespread & systematic torture by Russian authorities. 👉 Watch: youtube.com/watch?v=dMwhnG…

This morning, Russian armed forces struck residential areas of Kherson city reportedly using multiple launch rocket system. Reports say 3 women were killed, at least 22 civilians injured, incl 3 children. Kherson region is among the regions with the highest civilian casualties in 2025.

Our team is 85 people across the country & we are monitoring & documenting human rights violations & violations of intl humanitarian law carried out in the context of the war in #Ukraine. Today, on #UNDay, we stand firm in our commitment to provide a fact-based account of human rights violations unfolding in Ukraine.

Today we visited the kindergarten that was severely damaged in Russian loitering munitions strike this morning in Kharkiv. All 50 children present there were safely evacuated to a shelter & were not physically harmed. This incident highlights the continued attacks with long-range weapons impacting residential areas, including educational facilities, putting civilians at grave risk. bit.ly/46OmIUE

UN Human Rights continues to uncover systematic torture and abuse of Ukrainian civilians. Danielle Bell, head of UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, calls for more support to keep her 85-member team on the ground, documenting every violation to record the truth.

.@UNHumanRights report details dire situation of thousands of civilians detained since Russia’s full-scale armed attack on #Ukraine. It is essential that human rights of civilian detainees, who have been severely impacted by this terrible conflict, are prioritised in any peace talks - @volker_turk ➡️ ohchr.org/en/press-relea…

Situation of thousands of civilians detained since #Russia’s full-scale invasion of #Ukraine is detailed in @UNHumanRights report. Detention of Ukrainian civilians outside effective protection of the law in the occupied territory has contributed to an oppressive environment & climate of fear. ➡️ ohchr.org/en/press-relea…