A number of countries have accused the Russian military of taking the lives of many Ukrainian children in its invasion of Ukraine.

The United Nations Security Council held a meeting on Thursday to discuss the situation of children in Ukraine.

An official of the United Nations Children's Fund said that in the last month the United Nations has verified nearly 100 child deaths from the fighting, with an actual figure that is likely to be considerably higher.

He noted that many Ukrainian children have been deprived of the opportunity to receive an education, as they have been forced to evacuate or their schools have been destroyed.

UN envoys criticized Russia for the current situation in which many children have been killed. About 60 people, including children, were reportedly killed when Russian forces bombed a school in the eastern region of Luhansk on Saturday.

France's UN Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said, "The Russian army continues to kill civilians, including children, and to destroy civilian infrastructures." He added, "The cost of the war for children is terrible."

Britain's UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward said, "Children sheltering have been mercilessly targeted." She also said, "There are credible allegations of sexual violence against children by Russian forces."

Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, responded by saying, "Russian armed forces are making every effort to protect children in the course of their special military operation in Ukraine." He also said the Ukrainian military had used many educational facilities as strongholds, and those buildings have been significantly damaged. The Russian envoy added, "This inhumane method of warfare puts children's lives at risk."