(Note: Owing to the financial liquidity crisis affecting the Organization, full coverage of today’s meeting will be available on Tuesday, 9 June.)
The war in Ukraine is deadlier today than at any point since the start of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion in 2022, top UN officials warned the Security Council today, as Council members repeatedly stressed “enough is enough” and pleaded for an immediate ceasefire and a return to diplomacy.
“Appallingly, the last few months have seen some of the most extensive aerial attacks of the war,” Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, told the 15-member Council as it met for the fifth time in three weeks on developments related to Ukraine or the spillover effects of the war.
Just hours after the last Council briefing on Ukraine, on 1 June, the Russian Federation launched one of its biggest missile and drone bombardments across Ukraine. “Kyiv was heavily hit,” she said, adding that, according to local authorities, 7 people were killed and 89 injured. In Dnipro, missile strikes reportedly hit a residential area killing 16 people, including 2 children. Civilian casualties and extensive damage were also reported in Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Chernihiv regions.
Deadly incidents have also been reported in areas currently under the control of the Russian Federation, Ms. DiCarlo stated. On 3 June, eight people were reportedly killed when a drone struck a bus in Donetsk region, and on 4 June, in occupied Crimea, three people were reportedly killed in a drone strike, according to Russian Federation occupying authorities.
Further, she condemned attacks on nuclear facilities, welcomed the recent exchange of prisoners of war between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, and urged the immediate return of all forcibly transferred Ukrainian children. Reiterating the Secretary-General’s call for an immediate ceasefire, she stressed that peace must be consistent with the UN Charter and relevant resolutions.
“The past week has brought another surge in civilian casualties and suffering,” stated Indrika Ratwatte, Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, via video link. At least 30 civilians were reported killed and over 200 injured across Ukraine between 5 June and the early hours of today in “one of the most significant attacks on the capital since February 2022”.
Underscoring that these attacks are “unacceptable”, he said that international rules obliging civilian protection “exist to limit suffering and preserve dignity precisely when there is war”. “They must be respected,” he said reiterating that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is ready to work with both parties to help front-line civilians receive aid.
Straightforward Requests to Help Millions in Need of Aid, End War
“Today, 10.8 million people require humanitarian assistance. Yet, we have received less than half the funding needed to reach them,” he said, stressing: “My asks to this Council are straightforward.” He called on the Council to use its influence to reverse the erosion of civilian protection and to help preserve and expand humanitarian operations to reach civilians in need “wherever they are”.
Noting that Ukraine “remains one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises”, he urged Council members to ensure that humanitarian organizations have the funding needed to be present where needs are greatest. “We urge all those with influence: please, use it,” he concluded.
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