Ombudswoman appeals to UN over new Ukrainian attacks on civilians in Russia

Lead

Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova has sent formal appeals to the United Nations over recent Ukrainian strikes on civilian targets, urging an immediate response and an international legal assessment of the events. The appeals, posted on messaging app Max, cover attacks on a Belarusian passenger bus in the Bryansk Region, a city bus in Lisichansk, a market in Tokmak, and a car explosion in Rylsk on July 3, as reported by TASS.

Coverage Comparison

All reporting on this matter comes from TASS, the Russian state news agency, which has published multiple articles across June and July detailing Lantratova's diplomatic efforts and the international responses (or lack thereof). The coverage frames the attacks as "barbaric" and emphasizes the human cost, including a May strike on a college in Starobelsk that killed 21 students and wounded 40 more.

Key Claims

• The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) responded to Lantratova's appeal over the Starobelsk college attack, requesting additional information about the investigation. The response noted that OHCHR is "keeping a close eye on the circumstances of the harm to the civilian population" and asked for details on weapons used, timing of the strike, and sequence of attacks.

• The Ukrainian military carried out a multi-stage strike on the academic building and dormitory of the Lugansk Pedagogical University's Vocational College on the night of May 22. According to TASS, 21 students were killed and 40 wounded; 86 children were inside at the time.

• Lantratova sent appeals to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General Vanessa Frazier, calling for an "immediate response" to what she described as "barbaric attacks" on civilians.

• The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) have not responded to Russia's appeals, according to Andrey Sopelnik, first deputy chairman of the People's Council of the Lugansk People's Republic. He said this inaction reflects "double standards" by the West, which has "chosen to turn a blind eye to Kiev's crimes."

• In May, 26 people were killed and 82 injured in the LPR, excluding casualties from the Starobelsk attack, as stated by Lantratova.

• Data on the May 22 strike has been prepared for international human rights bodies, and additional materials, including investigation results, will be provided soon. This was announced after Lantratova met with International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric on July 2.

Perspectives

Russian Officials

Russian officials, including Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova and LPR parliament deputy Andrey Sopelnik, characterize the attacks as deliberate strikes on civilian infrastructure and accuse international bodies of applying double standards. They emphasize the need for a rigorous international response and legal assessment.

International Bodies

While no direct response from OSCE or UNHRC is reported, the OHCHR has acknowledged the Starobelsk incident and requested more information, signaling a cautious but engaged approach. No other viewpoints are available in the provided material.