Zelenskyy urges Russians to protest nuclear plant attack

Ukraine's president has called on Russians to protest after a projectile struck Europe's largest nuclear power plant. Meanwhile, the UN has backed a probe into alleged violations in Ukraine. Follow DW for the latest.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine enters its ninth dayRussian forces seize Europe's largest nuclear power plant, Ukraine saysUkrainian, Russian negotiators reach deal on humanitarian corridorsZelenskyy requests face-to-face talks with Putin

UN rights body back violations probe

The United Nations' Human Rights Council voted overwhelmingly on Friday to back a resolution condemning alleged human rights violations by Russia as its invasion of Ukraine enters a ninth day. The rights body has also set up an inquiry to probe the subject further.

Thirty-two members of the Council voted in favor of the resolution brought by Ukraine, and two — Russia and Eritrea — voted against, while 13 abstained.

UNICEF: Conflict is 'nightmarish for children'

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its ninth day, DW spoke to UNICEF's James Elder, who is in Lviv, about the impact the conflict is having on Ukrainian children.

The spokesperson said that for many children, the conflict meant "deep trauma, separations from families, fear, and for an increasing number, it means the end of their life."

"We are seeing children being killed and injured in this conflict as things continue to escalate. So across the board, this is nightmarish for children," he said.

He said that children were coping with their trauma in a number of ways.

"Some babies sleep a lot more as a coping mechanism. Some are in tears. Some are just frozen and steely. Others console their own mothers when their mothers can no longer keep up that facade of that strength. So it's a whole gamut of things, and it's an area that UNICEF knows," he said.

He said that although his organization was trucking in supplies from Denmark, "as this conflict continues, demand will continue to outstrip the supply."

"Half a million children fleeing their country in seven days, that's unprecedented in scale and swiftness and and, to be honest, unprecedented in sorrow and stress," he said.

He said that UNICEF, Ukraine and neighboring countries had strict rules on inter-country adoption of those children who had crossed into surrounding nations without those parents.

"So we ensure as best we can with a family member, an extended family member, someone from their village. These things are key. And then as a next resort to find a safe place somewhere. This is not easy, given the enormity of numbers of people moving," he said.

When asked what could be done to lessen the negative impact on children, he said, "the sooner we can get out of this situation, the better. But they will need counseling. They need temporary learning spaces. They need any type of education that can give them a distraction."

UN: 'Projectile' hit training center at nuclear plant

The head of the United Nations' atomic agency said Friday the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine was hit by a Russian "projectile" but that the building it struck was a training center, following conflicting reports over which part of the compound was affected by the shelling that ultimately brought about a fire.-

International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi said that the construction hit was "not part of the reactor."

He said two people on the site were injured in the blaze, adding that only one reactor at the site is operating, at about 60% capacity.

Zelenskyy urges Russians to protest if they 'want to live without radioactive contamination'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to Russians on Friday to "take to the streets and say that you want to live on earth without radioactive contamination" after the attack at the site of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.