Published on: 2026-10-29
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
October 29, 2026 Peace and Security
UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the attack by a Russian drone on the railway station in Dnipro, which killed at least 14 civilians and injured more than 10 others. Among the victims was an 11-year-old boy.
“This attack followed a series of deadly Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia. Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, wherever they occur, constitute a violation of international humanitarian law and must cease immediately,” said the statement delivered on behalf of the UN Secretary-General by his spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, also condemned the strike on the train station. “Civilians who were preparing to set out on their journey, meeting or seeing off loved ones, faced death and destruction,” he said.
Schmale expressed condolences to the families of the deceased. According to him, since the beginning of this year, passengers and railway workers have been facing increased danger: Russian military strikes threaten the safety and reliability of railway transportation, which plays a crucial role for the residents of Ukraine.
The humanitarian coordinator noted that in recent months, strikes on civilian infrastructure have increased across the country: bridges, hospitals, schools, shopping centers, and railway stations.
“Footage from Dnipro should not become just another story that will soon be forgotten. Behind every number stands a person, a family, and a future that has changed forever,” he said.
Schmal reminds that, according to international humanitarian law, civilians and civilian infrastructure are under protection.
Preparation for delivering aid to Oleshky
In an interview with the UN News Service on Thursday, the Humanitarian Coordinator reported that preparations for delivering aid to Oleshky – a city in the Kherson region under Russian occupation – are accelerating amid the ongoing local ceasefire. According to him, shipments could arrive at the location as early as Friday.
The regime announced by Washington on October 23 came into effect on October 27 and is scheduled to end on the evening of November 1.
The UN Secretary-General on Thursday expressed hope that “the temporary humanitarian ceasefire in the city of Oleshky in the Kherson region of Ukraine, announced by the US First Lady, will extend to other areas where civilians are suffering.”
Guterres also hopes that this “positive step” will lead to an immediate de-escalation of the situation on a broader scale.
Road demining and evacuation of residents
The Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, stated, according to Matthias Schmale, that he is heading to the city and will accompany residents during the evacuation.
The humanitarian coordinator noted that one of the main reasons why the city’s residents found themselves trapped was the mining of the roads. One of them is called the “road of death,” Schmale reported.
“It is obvious that to ensure both safe entry into the city and exit from it, preliminary demining is necessary,” he said, adding that, according to the information he has, demining work is already underway.
The UN will not take direct part in the evacuation of Oleks residents. “We offered our support, but it was not utilized,” Schmale said. None of the UN partners are involved in this process either.
According to the established procedure, evacuees will receive support as soon as they reach territories controlled by the government of Ukraine.
They will be provided with food and other material assistance, as well as support in finding housing. “It is quite likely that we will get involved in the work as soon as they arrive here,” he noted.
More than 1,000 people may remain in the city
According to Schmale, based on the data available to him, between 200 and 300 people may leave the city. “This means that more than 1,000 people will remain there, and they will require support,” he said.
The humanitarian coordinator referred to information received from UN human rights observers, representatives of civil society, and Ukrainian authorities.
Schmale reported that the only remaining medical facility in the city is operating “at the limit of its capabilities,” with a catastrophic shortage of medicines. In addition, as winter approaches, the lack of heating in homes is becoming an increasingly serious problem. The city’s residents also need access to safe drinking water.
“Since they were trapped for so long under heavy bombardment, mental health issues must not be overlooked under any circumstances,” he said.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It represents an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.