“As we face renewed escalation on the bottom and disaster elsewhere, it’s crucial to keep up targeted consideration on the pressing want for peace in Ukraine,” mentioned UN Assistant Secretary-Normal Miroslav Jenča – one among two senior officers briefing the ambassadors.
Within the three weeks because the Council final met on Ukraine, Russia has carried out unrelenting large-scale assaults on cities and cities, leading to a big rise in civilian casualties.
Lethal Kyiv assault
A mixed drone and missile assault on the capital Kyiv in a single day on 16-17 June was one of many deadliest there in a 12 months. Not less than 28 civilians have been killed and greater than 130 injured. Many others are nonetheless reported lacking underneath the rubble of the 35 flats destroyed that evening.
Assaults additionally reportedly occurred in Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv and Kyiv provinces that very same evening, with two civilians reportedly killed and scores injured in Odesa.
“These ranges of demise and destruction threat dimming hope for an instantaneous ceasefire and threaten to undermine prospects for an enduring peace,” he mentioned.
‘Dramatic improve’ in casualties
Knowledge from the UN human rights workplace, OHCHR, reveals that not less than 13,438 civilians, together with 713 youngsters, have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. One other 33,270 civilians have been injured, together with over 2,000 youngsters.
The variety of civilian casualties within the first 5 months of this 12 months alone totaled 5,144 – practically 50 per cent increased than in the identical interval in 2024. Of this quantity, 859 have been killed and 4,285 injured.
“This dramatic improve is a results of intensified use of long-range weapons, each missiles and loitering munitions, towards cities throughout Ukraine,” mentioned Mr. Jenča.
Ukrainian authorities report that between 1 and 17 June, Russian forces launched not less than 3,340 long-range drones, together with loitering munitions and decoy drones, and 135 missiles into the nation. This compares to 544 long-range munitions launched throughout the entire of June 2024.
Assaults reported in Russia
Escalating violence additionally continues to be reported in Russian areas that border Ukraine, although at a far decrease degree.
Within the Kursk area, a girl died in hospital a day after being injured in a Ukrainian drone assault whereas a person was killed, and 5 others injured, in a strike on a leisure centre. The UN was not capable of confirm these reviews.
“Let me as soon as once more unequivocally state – assaults towards civilians and civilian infrastructure are strictly prohibited underneath worldwide humanitarian regulation, wherever they happen,” mentioned Mr. Jenča, reiterating the UN’s condemnation.
Diplomatic developments welcomed
In the meantime, “necessary diplomatic developments have taken place on the difficult path in the direction of an enduring peace in Ukraine.”
Ukrainian and Russian delegations held their second face-to-face assembly in Istanbul on 2 June. They reportedly exchanged written memoranda outlining their respective visions for a ceasefire and parameters for a future peace settlement.
The edges additionally reached settlement for the large-scale trade of prisoners of battle, mortal stays and civilian detainees. Swaps have been carried out since then, with the most recent spherical going down earlier on Friday. The mortal stays of 6,057 Ukrainian and 78 Russian servicepersons even have been returned as of 16 June.
“We welcome the continuation of all significant diplomatic efforts, together with the current talks in Istanbul. We urge the edges to make tangible progress in the direction of a ceasefire and an enduring settlement by means of continued talks,” mentioned Mr. Jenča.
Within the face of escalation, he referred to as for redoubling efforts “to make sure that the delicate diplomatic course of is just not solely sustained however turns into irreversible.”
Civilians bear the brunt
Within the meantime, civilians proceed to bear the extreme penalties of the battle, mentioned Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations on the UN Workplace for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
“Because the battle continues, tens of millions of lives are impacted daily. Important companies are disrupted, and vulnerabilities are deepening for practically 13 million folks in want of help,” she mentioned.
Roughly 3.7 million persons are displaced inside Ukraine, together with 60,000 newly displaced from frontline areas since January alone. Nearly six million residents at the moment are refugees, primarily in Europe.
Amid the intensifying hostilities, the Authorities continues to order the obligatory evacuation of households with youngsters from front-line villages, she mentioned. Nevertheless, for some folks in these areas “assaults are so frequent that evacuations themselves turn into a dangerous prospect.”
Humanitarians in danger
Ms. Wosornu famous that humanitarians additionally face rising threats. This 12 months, two help staff have been killed and 24 injured whereas delivering help, and a few 68 incidents of violence impacting aid personnel, property and services have been recorded.
She mentioned that “regardless of an working atmosphere beset by a number of dangers and challenges,” humanitarians stay dedicated and engaged, and their operations proceed. Between January and Might, they reached some 3.4 million folks with life-saving help, together with meals, water, medicines, well being companies and livelihood assist.
Humanitarians are searching for $2.6 billion for Ukraine this 12 months, and $816 million, has been secured, she mentioned, stressing the significance significance of “well timed monetary assist”.
Finish the battle
Ms. Wosornu concluded her remarks by renewing earlier requires the Council to take pressing, collective motion in three areas, together with defending civilians and making certain secure humanitarian entry to all in want.
Ambassadors have been additionally urged to make sure sustained monetary assist as “declining funding traits” threaten help efforts.
Her ultimate request was an enchantment to “finish this battle, and till then, make sure that humanitarian issues are a central a part of discussions on a pause in preventing or longer-term settlement.”
