State Department accuses Russia of 'widespread' human rights abuses in Ukraine as troops reportedly fire missiles at civilian areas

• The State Department has accused Russia of "widespread" human rights abuses in Ukraine.
• Secretary Blinken's remarks come as Russian forces reportedly fire missiles at civilian areas.

The US State Department has accused Russia of "widespread" human rights abuses in Ukraine as troops reportedly fire missiles at civilian areas.

"Russia's invasion has damaged and destroyed schools, hospitals, radio stations, and homes, killing and injuring civilians, including children," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement during a United Nations Human Rights Council meeting.

He added: "Since the opening moments of Russia's premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine, reports of human rights abuses have been widespread."

Top advocacy groups have warned that ongoing bombings and attacks against Ukrainian citizens could be considered war crimes.

Amnesty International said on Sunday that cluster munitions killed several civilians — including a child — at a preschool on Friday, and said the strike may be considered "a war crime."

There's an international treaty banning the use of cluster munitions given their propensity to harm civilians. More than 100 countries have backed the treaty, but Russia and Ukraine are not among them.

Human Rights Watch said on Friday a Russian ballistic missile hit near a hospital the day before, killing four civilians and injuring 10.

"The escalation of military operations inside Ukraine is leading to escalating human rights violations," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Monday. "We know the result of war: civilian casualties, people forced to flee, poverty & hunger."

Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia on Monday of killing 16 children and injuring 45 others since the invasion began on Thursday.

His remarks came as dozens of people were reportedly killed in rocket strikes in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city.

Zelensky on Sunday said Ukraine submitted an application against Russia to the International Court of Justice, filing suit against Moscow in the UN's highest court.

"Russia must be held accountable for manipulating the notion of genocide to justify aggression," Zelensky said in a tweet. "We request an urgent decision ordering Russia to cease military activity now and expect trials to start next week."

Russian President Vladimir Putin has baselessly accused Ukraine of genocide against Russian speakers to justify Russia's unprovoked invasion.

Though Zelensky is Jewish, the Russian president has claimed that he's pursuing the "de-Nazification" of Ukraine.