Conflict in Ukraine: Situation Report #3

The fighting in Ukraine continues to escalate, with Russia gaining control of Kherson, one of the largest cities in the country, on March 2. Russia has laid siege to urban and residential areas with increasing force via ground fighting, heavy artillery and shelling, multi-launch rocket systems, missiles, and airstrikes.According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 249 civilians, including 17 children, have been killed between February 24 and March 2. An additional 553 civilians, including 30 children, have been injured by the fighting. These numbers are believed to be underestimates as capturing the true extent of fatalities amidst the violence remains challenging due to reporting delays and inability to assess the scope amidst constant fighting.Damage to civilian infrastructure continues, causing disruptions in electrical lines as well as gas and water supply systems. This is even more concerning considering temperatures in Ukraine are frequently below freezing. There are frequent reports of open fire on hospitals and schools in areas on both side of the contact line in Eastern Ukraine