Blinken cautions about increasing Russian violations of Ukrainian human rights.

• Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, cautioned on Tuesday that Russia's violations of human rights in Ukraine are intensifying rapidly.
• More than half a million Ukrainians have left the country and sought refuge in NATO member states, according to Blinken.
• Blinken raised the possibility of removing Russia from the UN Human Rights Council.

Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, cautioned on Tuesday that Russia's violations of human rights in Ukraine are intensifying rapidly.

The U.S. diplomat stated in a virtual speech to the UN Human Rights Council that Russian strikes are targeting schools, hospitals, and residential buildings, causing significant damage to critical infrastructure such as drinking water, gas, and electricity supply. Additionally, civilian vehicles like buses, cars, and ambulances have been shelled daily by Russia across Ukraine.

Over 500,000 Ukrainians have fled the country to NATO member states for refuge. Ukraine, which is not a member of NATO, shares borders with four NATO countries: Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, cautioned that Russia's actions in Ukraine might result in a global refugee crisis of unprecedented proportions.

Thomas-Greenfield stated in a Feb. 23 UN address that if Russia continues on its current course, it could potentially cause a new refugee crisis, one of the largest in the world, with an estimated 5 million more people displaced by its war.

President Putin's decision to escalate the conflict will result in Russia being solely responsible for the consequences, as stated by the speaker.

The State Department approved a $54 million humanitarian assistance package for those affected by Russia's invasion, bringing U.S. aid to Ukraine to about $405 million since 2014.

According to a USAID statement, the added assistance offers "critically needed health care, safe drinking water, sanitation, hygiene supplies, protection for vulnerable children, critical emergency health supplies, emergency food assistance, and high thermal blankets."

Blinken raised the issue of removing Russia from the UN Human Rights Council during his speech.

Blinken posed the question of whether a U.N. member state that attempts to take over another U.N. member state while committing human rights abuses and causing humanitarian suffering should be allowed to remain on the council.