Report on Violations of International Humanitarian Law and Setbacks to Sustainable Development Goals in Ukraine
Incident Overview: Air Strike on Bilenkivska Penal Colony No. 99
An air strike on 28 July 2025, in the Zaporizhzhia region, has raised significant concerns regarding adherence to international humanitarian law and its severe impact on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) is investigating the incident.
- Location: Bilenkivska Penal Colony No. 99, approximately 25 kilometers from the frontline.
- Alleged Perpetrator: Russian armed forces, who have denied responsibility.
- Reported Casualties: 16 prisoners killed and nearly 100 injured.
- Assessed Weaponry: Evidence suggests the use of powerful air-dropped glide bombs, causing extensive structural damage.
Implications for SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
The attack represents a direct assault on the principles of SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable institutions.
- Violation of Peace and Safety (Target 16.1): The targeting of a civilian facility, a prison, fundamentally undermines efforts to reduce all forms of violence and related death rates. Prisoners are classified as civilians under international humanitarian law and must be protected.
- Erosion of Justice and Rule of Law (Target 16.3): Such an attack may constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law, challenging the promotion of the rule of law at national and international levels and ensuring equal access to justice.
- Weakening of Institutions (Target 16.6): A penal colony is a state institution. Attacking it weakens the capacity and integrity of national institutions responsible for justice and civilian welfare.
Broader Impact on Civilian Well-being and Infrastructure
The incident at the prison is part of a wider pattern of attacks on civilian areas, further impeding progress on multiple SDGs.
- Attack near Kamianske Hospital (28 July): An attack in the Dnipropetrovsk region damaged a hospital and its maternity ward. It resulted in three fatalities, including a seven-month-pregnant woman, and 22 injuries.
- Attack in Kharkiv Region (29 July): A separate attack reportedly killed five civilians and injured three.
Setbacks to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)
These attacks have devastating consequences for public health and community safety, directly contradicting the aims of SDG 3 and SDG 11.
- Impact on Health and Well-being (SDG 3): The loss of life and numerous injuries, particularly the death of a pregnant patient and damage to a maternity ward, are severe setbacks to ensuring healthy lives. This undermines Target 3.1 (reduce maternal mortality) and Target 3.8 (achieve universal health coverage, including access to quality essential health-care services).
- Impact on Sustainable Communities (SDG 11): Attacks on civilian infrastructure, including prisons and hospitals, render human settlements unsafe and unsustainable. This directly opposes Target 11.5, which aims to significantly reduce the number of deaths and people affected by disasters and protect critical infrastructure.
Verification and Follow-Up
The HRMMU is actively working to verify the details of these incidents and plans to conduct a site visit to the Bilenkivska Penal Colony to gather additional information. The objective is to ensure accountability and uphold the international legal frameworks that protect civilians and support sustainable development, even in conflict zones.
SDGs Addressed in the Article
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
- The article directly addresses this goal by reporting on acts of violence and conflict. The air strike on a prison and other attacks on civilian areas, resulting in deaths and injuries, are a clear failure to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies.” The mention of a “serious violation of international humanitarian law” and the subsequent investigation by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) directly relate to the pursuit of justice and upholding the rule of law.
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- This goal is relevant due to the reported casualties. The article states that the attacks left a total of 24 people dead and 125 injured. Furthermore, the specific attack that “struck near a hospital in Kamianske… damaging the hospital and its maternity ward” directly undermines the provision of healthcare and the safety of health facilities, which is crucial for ensuring well-being. The death of a pregnant patient is a stark example of the impact on health outcomes.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- The article connects to this goal by highlighting the vulnerability of civilian infrastructure in populated areas. A prison and a hospital are essential components of a community. The attacks on these facilities, described as causing “extensive structural damage” to the prison and damaging the hospital, demonstrate a failure to make human settlements safe, resilient, and sustainable, particularly in the face of conflict, which acts as a man-made disaster.
Relevant SDG Targets
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
- Target 16.1: “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.”
- The article provides concrete evidence of violence and related death rates. It reports that an air strike “left 16 people dead and almost 100 injured,” another attack “killing three and injuring 22,” and a third attack that “reportedly killed five civilians and injured three.” These events are in direct opposition to the objective of this target.
- Target 16.3: “Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.”
- The statement that the attack on the prison “may amount to a serious violation of international humanitarian law” directly invokes the principle of the rule of law at the international level. The monitoring and planned site visit by the HRMMU represent an effort to investigate and uphold these laws.
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Target 3.d: “Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.”
- The attack “damaging the hospital and its maternity ward” directly weakens the country’s capacity to manage health risks. Destroying healthcare infrastructure severely compromises the ability to provide essential medical services to the population, especially during a crisis like a war.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Target 11.5: “By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters… with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.”
- The conflict described in the article is a man-made disaster. The article quantifies the “number of deaths” (24) and “people affected” (125 injured). It also refers to the destruction of critical infrastructure (a prison and a hospital), which represents a direct economic loss. Prisoners are a particularly vulnerable population, aligning with the target’s focus.
Implied Indicators for Measuring Progress
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
- Indicator 16.1.2: “Conflict-related deaths per 100,000 population, by sex, age and cause.”
- The article provides the raw data needed for this indicator by reporting the number of deaths resulting directly from conflict. It specifies the cause (“air-dropped bombs”) and the status of the victims (“prisoners,” “patients,” “civilians”).
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Damage to health facilities:
- While not a formal UN indicator, the article’s report of an attack “damaging the hospital and its maternity ward” serves as a direct, qualitative indicator of the regression from Target 3.d. The number of attacks on or damage to healthcare facilities is a critical measure of health system capacity and safety in a conflict.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Indicator 11.5.1: “Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.”
- The article provides the numerator for this indicator by stating the number of deaths (24) and directly affected persons (125 injured) from the disaster (armed conflict).
- Indicator 11.5.2 (Implied): “Direct economic loss… including disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services.”
- The article implies this indicator by describing “extensive structural damage” to the prison and damage to the hospital. This destruction of critical infrastructure constitutes a direct economic loss and a disruption of basic services (penal and healthcare).
Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators Identified in Article |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | 16.1: Reduce all forms of violence and related death rates.
16.3: Promote the rule of law. |
16.1.2: Number of conflict-related deaths (Article reports 24 deaths from air strikes).
Qualitative assessment of violations of international humanitarian law. |
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | 3.d: Strengthen capacity for health risk management. | Damage to health infrastructure (Article reports a hospital and its maternity ward were damaged). |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | 11.5: Reduce deaths, affected people, and economic loss from disasters. | 11.5.1: Number of deaths (24) and affected persons (125) from a man-made disaster.
11.5.2 (Implied): Damage to critical infrastructure (Article reports “extensive structural damage” to a prison and damage to a hospital). |
Source: ukraine.ohchr.org
