UN official warns of worsening situation in Ukraine and deepening civilian suffering

New York, November 9 (KUNA) -- A United Nations official warned today, Monday, of the increasing severity and unpredictability of the situation in Ukraine, as the Russian military operation there approaches its fifth year amid escalating attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure and with winter drawing near. This warning came during a briefing delivered by Kayoko Goto, Head of the Europe and Central Asia Division in the UN Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, at a session convened by the UN Security Council on maintaining peace and security in Ukraine.

Goto stated that the situation in Ukraine is deteriorating and becoming more dangerous due to intensified Russian attacks on residential areas and civilian facilities across the country. She added that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has verified, since the start of the Russian military operation in February 2022, the deaths of at least 17,968 civilians, including 874 children, and injuries to 57,713 others, including 3,504 children.

She expressed deep concern over the intensified attacks on Ukraine’s vital energy facilities as winter approaches, warning that their continuation would exacerbate civilian suffering, increase displacement waves, and endanger the safety of nuclear facilities. She noted that incidents affecting commercial navigation in the Black Sea continue to pose a threat to global food security, calling for the protection of civilian ships and port infrastructure and for de-escalation.

The UN official welcomed diplomatic efforts led by the United States and regional initiatives aimed at dialogue, reiterating the UN Secretary-General’s call for an immediate, comprehensive, and unconditional ceasefire as a step toward achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

For his part, Mohamed Yahya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, warned of the continued deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, emphasizing that the loss of electricity, heating, and water during winter puts more civilian lives at risk. Yahya pointed to the humanitarian ceasefire in the Russian-controlled town of Oleshky as a model for temporary arrangements that provide a degree of safety for civilians and enable the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need. He stressed that humanitarian assistance cannot substitute for electricity networks subjected to repeated attacks, calling for the protection of civilians and infrastructure and ensuring the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid. (End) E.S.T. / M.A.H.