RUSSIA has been placed on the annual United Nations blacklist of countries that violate children’s rights in conflict, but Israel is still not included.

Moscow’s forces in Ukraine are accused of killing boys and girls and attacking schools and hospitals.

In the report to the UN security council, secretary-general Antonio Guterres said that he was “appalled” by the high number of “grave violations” of children’s rights in Ukraine last year, “shocked” at the number of attacks on schools and hospitals, “concerned” by the detention of children and “troubled” that some Ukrainian youngsters have been transferred to Russia.

Mr Guterres that he was also concerned by the number of grave violations of children’s rights by Ukrainian forces and urged them to abide by protections for civilians under international law.

According to the report, Ukrainian armed forces were responsible for the deaths of 80 children and injuries to 175 others, as well as 212 attacks on schools and hospitals.

But the UN secretary-general did not add Israel to the blacklist for over its forces’ killing of 1,139 Palestinian children, including 54 last year.

He instead welcomed Israel’s engagement with UN special envoy for children in armed conflict Virginia Gamba and its “identification of practical measures, including those proposed by the UN,” to protect children.

Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour said Mr Guterres had “made a big mistake” in not listing the most extreme government in Israel’s history.

“It is very disappointing to the Palestinian people and to the Palestinian children,” he said.

Mr Guterres said that, last year, children were disproportionately affected by conflict, with the UN having verified grave violations against 13,469 children, including 2,985 who were killed, in 24 countries and one region.

“Grave violations” include the recruitment and use of youngsters by combatants, killings and injuries, sexual violence, abductions and attacks on schools and hospitals.