Geneva, (AFP) - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday condemned Russia's war on Ukraine , calling for an end to the "unbearable" suffering of civilians as a result of the invasion.

In her last public address at the Human Rights Council, Bachelet called for an immediate end to hostilities and redress for war victims.

"As hostilities enter its fifth month, the unbearable toll of the conflict in Ukraine continues to grow," she said.

"With daily killing, widespread destruction, arbitrary detention and mass displacement, civilians are bearing the brunt of hostilities with no end in sight," Bachelet said.

"In the name of all the victims of this senseless war, the killings, torture and arbitrary arrests must stop," she added.

Bachelet's remarks came while presenting a report on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine during the Russian offensive from February 24 to May 15.

“The large numbers of civilian casualties and the extent of the destruction of civilian infrastructure continue to raise serious concerns that attacks by the Russian armed forces do not comply with international humanitarian law,” said the High Commissioner.

While on a much smaller scale, it also appears likely that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have not fully complied with international humanitarian law in the eastern parts of the country.

"While it appears, on a much smaller scale, it is likely that the Ukrainian armed forces have not fully complied with international humanitarian law in the eastern parts of the country," she added.

Bachelet said that as of July 3, more than 10,000 civilians had been documented dead and wounded in Ukraine, noting that 335 children were among the 4,889 dead.

The actual numbers are likely to be much higher.

"Most of the documented civilian casualties resulted from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas," it said.

"Although the civilian death toll from such weapons used in this manner is now indisputable, the Russian armed forces have continued to act in the same manner, with predictable repercussions for the civilian population and civilian infrastructure," she added.

"There remain concerns about unlawful killings, including summary executions. The mounting evidence provides my Office with reasonable grounds to believe that serious violations of international humanitarian law have been committed by Russian armed forces in this regard," she added.

"The mounting evidence gives my office reasonable grounds to believe that the Russian armed forces committed serious violations of international humanitarian law in this regard," Bachelet said.

By May 15, the bodies of 1,200 civilians had been found exclusively in the Kiev region, and Bachelet's office is verifying more than 300 suspected killings committed by Russian forces in situations not related to actual combat, according to Bachelet.

Bachelet said that arbitrary detention of civilians has expanded in territories under the control of Russia and its proxies.
It referred to "appalling reports of continued torture and ill-treatment on both sides, including prisoners of war."

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Amina Jabarova said in a video conference that Russia had shown "total disregard for international law and human rights".

"The entire nation has been subjected to pain and suffering," she added.

On the other hand, Russia's representative, Evgeny Ustinov, said that Bachelet's office had "disparaged him" and had become "part of the disinformation campaign against Russia, spreading lies" as complicit in the crime of the "Kiev terrorist regime".

Bachelet, 70, a former president of Chile, decided to step down at the end of her four-year term.

Bachelet concluded her speech by saying, "As this is the last time that I will address this Council about the tragic situation of human rights in Ukraine, I would like to renew my urgent appeal to the concerned parties to put human life and human rights at the center of efforts to achieve an immediate cessation of all hostilities, re-establish peace and support accountability (officials) and justice for all those affected.”