UN chief condemns Russian assaults in opposition to Ukrainian cities and cities | EUROtoday

Overnight, Russian armed forces reportedly launched 158 missiles and drones in a number of waves focusing on places throughout Ukraine, together with in Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Cherkasy, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia areas.

In an announcement issued by his spokesperson, Secretary-General António Guterres underscored that assaults in opposition to civilians and civilian infrastructure “violate international humanitarian law, are unacceptable and must end immediately”.

He additionally prolonged his deepest condolences to the households of all of the victims and wished a speedy restoration to the injured, the assertion added.

Security Council discusses scenario in Ukraine

Also on Friday, the Security Council held an pressing assembly on the scenario in Ukraine, the place members have been briefed by Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General on the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.

Since the Department’s final briefing to Council members on 6 December, “we have continued to see daily reports of attacks on Ukrainian cities and towns, including on critical civilian and energy infrastructure, with many resulting civilian casualties,” he mentioned.

During the Christmas interval alone, assaults on town of Kherson reportedly killed a number of folks and wounded many others, whereas residence buildings, a medical facility and a railway station full of greater than 100 civilians awaiting evacuation, have been struck.

The Secretary-General condemns within the strongest phrases the in a single day large-scale missile and drone assault by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian cities and cities throughout the nation, together with in opposition to civilian and important infrastructure. The assault reportedly resulted in at the least 24 civilians killed and greater than 134 injured.

Attacks in opposition to civilians should cease instantly

Mr. Khiari reiterated the UN Secretary-General’s condemnation of the assaults on cities and cities throughout Ukraine.

“Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law, are unacceptable and must stop immediately,” he harassed.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has verified some 1,888 civilian deaths and an extra 6,334 accidents in 2023, bringing the entire casualties since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 to 29,113.

The precise figures are probably significantly larger.

2023 ending because it started

Mr. Khiari went on to notice that, tragically, 2023 is ending because it started – with devastating violence in opposition to the folks of Ukraine.

“Once again, Ukrainians are forced to spend the holidays seeking shelter, clearing the rubble, and burying the dead, amidst freezing temperatures,” he mentioned.

“As we look to the New Year in the hope of avoiding further escalation, we recall the Secretary-General’s appeal to all concerned to do their part to help lay the foundations for sustainable peace in Ukraine – in accordance with the UN Charter, international law, and resolutions of the General Assembly,” he added.