Since August 2024, about 170,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in the east of the country, many of them evacuated from areas where fighting is taking place. Ukraine: Security Council discusses situation in the country, UN calls for peace again Peace and security
Since February 2022, at least 12,164 civilians have been killed in the war in Ukraine, including more than 600 children. At least 26,871 people have been injured, Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, told the UN Security Council on Monday.
DiCarlo read a statement on behalf of the Secretary-General, who is at the G20 summit in Brazil. Over the weekend, she said, Russia launched its largest-ever combined attack, reportedly launching 120 missiles and 90 drones. Energy infrastructure across Ukraine was destroyed and damaged.
Humanitarian Efforts
The targeted destruction of energy infrastructure could make the coming winter the harshest since the war began, the UN Deputy Secretary-General has stressed. According to her, the United Nations remains ready to support Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery efforts, which includes strengthening the resilience of energy infrastructure.
“Our focus is on the Winter Response Plan,” DiCarlo said, “but without the necessary resources, the most vulnerable will be left unprotected. Unhindered humanitarian access is needed to help the approximately 1.5 million people in the regions of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation. These areas remain beyond our reach.”
Meanwhile, the work of humanitarian organizations, she continued, has become even more dangerous. At least nine humanitarian workers have been killed in the line of duty this year and more than 35 have been injured.
Escalation of the conflict
“Last night, there were also media reports that Ukrainian troops will receive permission to use long-range weapons supplied by partners to strike at Russian territory,” the UN deputy chief continued. “I want to be clear: all parties must ensure the safety and security of civilians, no matter where they are.”
According to DiCarlo, recent reports of thousands of troops from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea being deployed to the conflict zone and being involved in hostilities are deeply alarming to the UN.
“This adds fuel to the fire, further escalating and internationalizing this explosive conflict,” the UN Deputy Chief stressed. “Few doubt that this war in the heart of Europe is a conflict with global implications. It undermines regional stability and deepens geopolitical divisions and must be stopped.”
It will take concerted diplomatic efforts and political will to turn away from this dangerous path, DiCarlo said, adding that the time has come to conclude a just peace in accordance with the UN Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions.
Positions of countries
Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom David Lammy, who spoke as the chairman of the Security Council meeting on Ukraine, recalled that his country had just imposed new sanctions on Iran for supplying weapons to Russia. He stressed that Britain would never give up on “countering Russian aggression.”
“1,000 days later, we still stand for Ukraine. 1,000 days later, we still stand for the international order. 1,000 days later, we still stand for the principles on which the United Nations was founded. 1,000 days later, we are as ready to confront your aggression as we were the day you started this senseless war,” he said.