208 Ukrainian Children Have Died Since Russia-Ukraine War Started, 376 More Injured

More than 200 children have been killed since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine in February, data showed.

As of Thursday, it is believed that the war in Ukraine has led to the death of 208 Ukrainian children and injured 376 others. In addition, officials are also recording three new deaths among children per day.

The estimates were taken from the data of the United Register of Pre-Trial Investigations, which was shared by Ukraine’s Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Lyudmyla Denisova. The ombudsman noted that the actual number of deaths and injuries among children could not be determined as Russian troops continue to conduct combat operations in several cities.

A separate report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) estimated that at least 177 children have been killed and 285 have been injured since the invasion began on Feb. 24.

Overall, the OHCHR estimated that a total of 2,345 adults and children have died and 2,919 people have sustained injuries in the war. The agency added that the actual figures are believed to be much higher, noting that some locations suffering from intense combat have delayed sending their data.

Reports of the estimated death toll among Ukrainians come as the mayor of the besieged city of Mariupol, Vadym Boichenko, on Thursday accused Russians of throwing corpses into mass graves in an attempt to conceal their “barbaric” war crimes.

“The invaders are concealing evidence of their crimes. The cemetery is located near a petrol station to the left side of a circular road. The Russians have dug huge trenches, 30 metres wide. They chuck people in,” Boichenko said.

The mayor estimated that over 20,000 Mariupol residents have been killed in the war. However, most of the bodies have been removed. Some have also been cremated.

The Mariupol City Council said that satellite images captured by the U.S. defense contractor Maxar showed that the mass graves were at least 20 times larger than that discovered in the Ukrainian city of Bucha in early April. The council added that they have found 70 bodies so far and believe the site could hold between 3,000 to 9,000 in total.