Russia-Ukraine war crosses 100-day mark

Ukraine on Friday crossed the 100-day mark since Russia launched a war against its eastern neighbor on Feb. 24, as the invading forces seek to advance in the industrial city of Severodonetsk to expand Moscow's control area in eastern Ukraine.

The first 100 days of the war "have led to devastating consequences for children on a scale and pace" unseen since World War II, while on average, at least two children have been killed a day, said the United Nations on International Day for Protection of Children, celebrated on June 1 every year.

At least 243 children have died as a result of Russian attacks, while another 446 children were wounded by Russian forces, the Ukrainian Chief Prosecutor's Office said Wednesday. According to U.N. estimates, at least 4,149 civilians have been killed and 4,945 injured in Ukraine since the start of the war, with the true toll believed to be much higher. One of every six people has been internally displaced due to the war, making the total 7.7 million, said the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration. Over 6.8 million people have fled to other countries, said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Russian and Ukrainian delegations have held a total of four face-to-face negotiations to ensure a cease-fire, with three of them in Belarus and one in Turkey. In Belarus, both sides could only agree on humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians from conflict zones. As a result of mediation attempts by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Ukrainian side delivered the principles of a draft agreement to the Russian side during negotiations held in Istanbul on March 29.