Published on: 2026-04-20
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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The UN Security Council convened on Monday afternoon for an emergency meeting on Ukraine. The meeting was called at the initiative of official Kyiv in connection with the intensification of bombings by Russia, including the recent destructive strike on the Dnipro. According to authorities, more than five thousand drones and missiles have been launched over Ukraine’s territory in recent weeks, leading to significant casualties among the civilian population.
The situation in Ukraine continues to worsen, the number of civilian casualties is increasing, and the humanitarian situation is deteriorating. This was stated by senior UN officials speaking at a Security Council meeting.
Escalation of violence
Assistant to the Secretary-General for the Middle East, Europe, America, Asia and the Pacific Khaled Khiari noted that over the past month the intensity of hostilities has increased significantly, while there has been no significant progress on the diplomatic track.
According to him, Russian strikes continue to be carried out in various regions of Ukraine, causing destruction and casualties among the civilian population. The declared ceasefire was violated, despite the fact that the parties stated their readiness to temporarily stop the fire.
Victims among civilians
During the period from April 13 to 16, massive airstrikes were recorded, and on the night of April 15 to 16, the “Russian Federation carried out the deadliest attack since the beginning of the year,” striking the Odessa, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions. According to available data, at least 20 people were killed, including a child, and dozens more were injured.
The UN expresses particular concern about the growing losses among civilians. In March alone, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, at least 211 people died and more than 1200 were injured. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, the deaths of more than 15,500 civilians, including 784 children, have been confirmed. Another 43,352 people, including 2,668 children, have been wounded.
Situation in Russia
In Russia, local authorities, including those in the regions bordering Ukraine—Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk—also report an increase in the number of casualties among civilians, noted Khiari.
According to the available data, the speaker continued, in one of the recent incidents as a result of a Ukrainian strike in Krasnodar Krai, a woman and a teenage girl were killed.
Critical infrastructure
Chiari emphasized that strikes continue to target critical infrastructure, including energy facilities, railways, and ports on the Black Sea and Danube, which play a key role in food exports. In addition, damage has been recorded at more than 500 cultural heritage sites.
Against this background, the UN once again called for the immediate cessation of attacks on civilian infrastructure and populated areas, reminding that such actions are prohibited under international humanitarian law.
The humanitarian situation is worsening
The humanitarian dimension of the crisis was presented by the Assistant to the Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Joyce Msuya. She noted that strikes by missiles, drones, and artillery are increasingly hitting residential areas and life-support facilities.
According to her, in just one of the recent waves of night attacks, more than 20 people died and over 140 were injured. In another case, a strike on a bus in Nikopol led to the death of four people.
The destruction of energy infrastructure, which leads to interruptions in electricity, water, and heating for millions of people, causes serious concern. According to UN estimates, these consequences will be felt not only in the summer but also in the upcoming winter period.
Help for the population
Despite ongoing hostilities, humanitarian organizations provide assistance to the population, including medical and psychological support, as well as evacuation of people from frontline areas. However, access to those in need remains limited, and the risks for humanitarian workers are increasing, including due to the active use of drones.
Source of funding
The UN also warned of a serious underfunding. Only a quarter of the requested amount of 2.3 billion dollars has been received, insufficient to provide assistance of 4.1 million. As a result, millions of people remain without support.
UN representatives called on the international community to strengthen diplomatic efforts, ensure the protection of civilians, and increase funding for humanitarian operations. Without this, they emphasized, the suffering of millions of people will only intensify, and the prospects of achieving a sustainable peace will remain under threat.influences
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