In a single day, Russian armed forces reportedly launched 158 missiles and drones in a number of waves concentrating on areas throughout Ukraine, together with in Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Cherkasy, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia areas.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Secretary-General António Guterres underscored that assaults towards civilians and civilian infrastructure “violate worldwide humanitarian legislation, are unacceptable and should finish instantly”.
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.
Safety Council discusses scenario in Ukraine
Additionally on Friday, the Security Council held an pressing assembly on the scenario in Ukraine, the place members had been briefed by Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-Common on the UN Division of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.
Because the Division’s final briefing to Council members on 6 December, “we have now continued to see day by day experiences of assaults on Ukrainian cities and cities, together with on important civilian and vitality infrastructure, with many ensuing civilian casualties,” he mentioned.
Throughout the Christmas interval alone, assaults on town of Kherson reportedly killed a number of individuals and wounded many others, whereas residence buildings, a medical facility and a railway station full of greater than 100 civilians awaiting evacuation, had been struck.
The Secretary-Common 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 towards civilian and significant infrastructure. The assault reportedly resulted in no less than 24 civilians killed and greater than 134 injured.
Assaults towards civilians should cease instantly
Mr. Khiari reiterated the UN Secretary-Common’s condemnation of the assaults on cities and cities throughout Ukraine.
“Assaults towards civilians and civilian infrastructure violate worldwide humanitarian legislation, are unacceptable and should cease instantly,” he burdened.
The Workplace of the UN Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has verified some 1,888 civilian deaths and an extra 6,334 accidents in 2023, bringing the overall casualties since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 to 29,113.
The precise figures are seemingly significantly greater.
2023 ending because it started
Mr. Khiari went on to notice that, tragically, 2023 is ending because it started – with devastating violence towards the individuals of Ukraine.
“As soon as once more, Ukrainians are compelled to spend the vacations searching for shelter, clearing the rubble, and burying the lifeless, amidst freezing temperatures,” he mentioned.
“As we glance to the New Yr within the hope of avoiding additional escalation, we recall the Secretary-Common’s attraction to all involved to do their half to assist lay the foundations for sustainable peace in Ukraine – in accordance with the UN Charter, worldwide legislation, and resolutions of the Common Meeting,” he added.
