COPENHAGEN, 8 May 2025 – On this symbolic day marking the end of World War II, OSCE PA President and Chair of the Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine (PSTU), Pia Kauma (Finland), along with Co-Chairs Joe Wilson (United States) and Mykyta Poturaiev (Ukraine), Special Rapporteurs Carina Ödebrink (Sweden), Lucie Potůčková (Czechia), and Mati Raidma (Estonia), as well as members of the PSTU and OSCE PA Secretary General, Roberto Montella, express deep concern over the devastating consequences of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.

In a statement issued today, they emphasize the immense suffering endured by civilians and the severe damage inflicted upon critical infrastructure:

“As the fall of one totalitarian regime is celebrated, it is crucial to remember that another endured in the form of the Soviet Union. Through its brutal war of aggression against its neighbor, Russia demonstrates that it has not renounced its totalitarian past but has instead embraced this legacy.

Consequently, April 2025 has been one of the deadliest months, with Russia conducting large-scale drone and missile strikes on residential areas across Ukraine. These strikes once again highlight the devastating consequences of conventional warfare in urban residential areas.

Since the onset of the invasion in February 2022, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has verified over 13,000 civilian deaths, including close to 700 children, and more than 31,000 injuries, among them some 2,000 children. In April 2025 alone, close to 150 civilians were killed and nearly 700 injured, marking one of the highest monthly tolls in recent times. A particularly tragic incident occurred on 4 April 2025 in Kryvyi Rih, where a Russian missile strike on a residential area and playground resulted in around 20 fatalities, including about ten children.

Children continue to bear the brunt of this conflict. On 13 April 2025, during Sunday church services in Sumy, Russian ballistic missiles and cluster munitions killed around 30 people, including 2 children, and wounded nearly 100 others, among them close to 10 children. This in addition to the longer-term tragedy related to the forcible transfer or deportation of thousands of children from Ukraine to the temporarily occupied territories and Russia in full violation of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law.

Ukraine’s healthcare system remains under relentless attack. As of April 2025, the UN has verified over 60 attacks on healthcare facilities, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries among medical personnel and patients. Notably, on 30 March 2025, Russian drone strikes targeted a medical facility in Kharkiv, injuring seven people. These attacks not only endanger lives but also severely hinder access to essential medical services for civilians.

Educational institutions have also been targeted. As of April 2025, the UN has verified over 70 attacks on Ukrainian schools by Russian forces, severely disrupting education and endangering students and staff.

In April 2025, missile attacks in Kharkiv damaged multiple residential buildings and an educational facility, injuring at least five children among dozens of others.

Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has suffered extensive damage. Between March and April 2025, Ukraine recorded over 30 separate attacks on energy facilities, severely affecting civilian life and the functioning of critical services. Concentrated strikes targeted power generation plants and high-voltage transmission networks, significantly reducing the country’s energy capacity.

The continued shelling and missile strikes have devastated residential areas, leading to mass displacement.

The Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine unequivocally condemns these ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law and calls for:

• An immediate cessation of hostilities;
• Full accountability for violations of international law;
• Unrestricted humanitarian access to all affected areas;
• Justice for victims, including through appropriate international mechanisms and judicial processes;
• Ensuring the safe return of all Ukrainian children.

The consequences for innocent civilians are profound and long-lasting. Families lose their homes, communities are fractured, and the physical and psychological toll will inevitably last for generations. Essential infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, is often destroyed, making daily life increasingly difficult. Many are forced into displacement, struggling to secure basic needs and rebuild their futures. Concrete steps to end these violations and protect civilians from the lasting devastation of conflict must be urgently enacted by Russia.”

For more information on the OSCE PA's Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine, please click here.