UN Photo/M. Elias Meeting of the UN Security Council on maintaining peace and security in Ukraine. The UN Security Council discussed a strike on civilian targets in the Lugansk region of Ukraine Peace and Security
The UN is following with concern reports of an attack on a college building and dormitory in the city of Starobelsk, Lugansk region of Ukraine, which killed and injured civilians, including children. This was stated by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Fraser, speaking at a meeting of the Security Council on Friday.
She noted that the UN does not have access to the area and cannot confirm the details of what happened.
Fraser recalled that four years after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, large-scale attacks continue daily, causing civilian casualties and destroying critical infrastructure. The special representative noted that Ukrainian strikes on the territory of the Russian Federation also resulted in civilian casualties and damage to residential buildings and other civilian objects.
“I strongly condemn all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure,” she emphasized.
Fraser recalled that such actions are prohibited by international humanitarian law and “must cease immediately.”
“Civilians, children, aid workers and civilian objects should never be targeted,” she said.
Fraser said what happened in Starobelsk is a “stark reminder of a broader and deeply troubling trend”: attacks on schools continue to undermine the educational experience for millions of children in conflict zones around the world. She stressed that the destruction of schools deprives children not only of learning facilities, but also of “a sense of security, stability, routine and hope for the future,” which has “devastating and lifelong consequences.”
Fraser concluded by echoing the UN Secretary-General’s call for a “complete, immediate and unconditional ceasefire” as a step towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in accordance with the UN Charter, international law and UN resolutions.
Photo UN/E. Debebe Representative of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Edem Wosornu.
Commenting on the attack in Starobelsk, the representative of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Eden Wosornu said: “The situation continues to evolve, and much is still unknown to us. But we know for sure that the loss of life that this war leads to indicates a violation of international humanitarian law. Civilians must be protected.”
She also recalled the May 20 attack on a warehouse in Dnieper rented by the UN Refugee Agency, which killed two people and destroyed nearly a million dollars worth of humanitarian aid.
“This is the fifth time humanitarian workers and facilities have been attacked in just nine days. This must stop,” Vosornu said.
“The responsibility to protect civilians and civilian objects, including humanitarian workers and their property, is mandatory for all parties to this conflict. Targeting civilians and indiscriminate attacks are strictly prohibited by international law,” she added. UN Photo Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Ted Chaiban. “According to reports, the attack killed six people and injured dozens, including children. It is too early to talk about the full extent of the losses, since, as far as we know, rescue operations are ongoing,” said Ted Chaiban, deputy executive director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). 400 children were killed or injured: “Millions of children in Ukraine continue to suffer from ongoing fighting, living with air raids, the risk of airstrikes, forced displacement, and increasing uncertainty and fear that nowhere is safe.” He called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians, including children. Chaiban said UNICEF is concerned about attacks on schools and “their devastating impact on students, teachers and learning” across Ukraine. “Since 2022, more than 1,780 educational institutions have been confirmed to have been damaged or destroyed,” said a Children’s representative fund. He called on the Security Council to use its influence to promote political dialogue that will help “end this war and give millions of children hope for lasting peace.”