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Ukraine’s suffering must not become new normal, declares UN rights chief

Speaking in the capital, Kyiv, after an official four-day visit to the country, Volker Türk said that the scale of the damage and destruction that he had seen in Izium was “shocking”. In Bucha, north of Kyiv, where scenes showing civilians lying dead in the street sparked international outrage soon after the departure from the

Ukraine: ‘Senseless war’ has triggered ‘colossal torment’: Griffiths to Security Council

Amidst ongoing humanitarian operations, Martin Griffiths told ambassadors he had come to brief them in New York on “the widespread death, destruction, displacement, and suffering” taking place since the invasion of 24 February, and the challenges that the continuing violence and winter weather were exacerbating. “Over 14 million people remain forcibly displaced from their homes

Ukraine: Missile strikes threaten millions facing cold and hungry winter

At the regular press briefing in New York, Associate Spokesperson Stéphanie Tremblay told journalists that according to UN humanitarian affairs office OCHA, citing local authorities, strikes affected regions in the north, centre and south, as well as the capital, Kyiv. “In Odesa, the water supply has been compromised due to the lack of electricity to

Fighting conflict-related sexual violence in Ukraine

As the Russian invasion erodes the security of Ukrainians across the country, the risk to women and girls is two-fold. “There’s no doubt that no one feels safe because of Russia’s war against Ukraine,” says Ms. Kit, “And women and girls have become even less protected from gender-based violence. Rape—usually gang rape—sexual torture, forced nudity,

Ukraine: Heading into winter without heat or water, needs in Mykolaiv are ‘critical’

Updating journalists at a regular press briefing, Stéphane Dujarric recounted Humanitarian Coordinator Denise Brown’s visit over the weekend to Kherson and Mykolaiv where she assessed the humanitarian situation, met with authorities, and monitored the response provided by aid organizations.  She observed that although humanitarians are delivering vital aid, “the needs are immense”. Making a difference

Ukraine: Missile strikes, summary executions highlight importance of international law

“Millions are being plunged into extreme hardship and appalling conditions of life by these strikes”, he said. “Taken as a whole, this raises serious problems under international humanitarian law, which requires a concrete and direct military advantage for each object attacked”. Racking up casualties According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU),

‘Catastophic’ winter in store for Ukraine, warns UN peacebuilding chief, following Russian strikes on critical infrastructure

Ms. DiCarlo referred to the latest wave of Russian missile and drone strikes in Ukraine which, she said, terrorized the citizens of several cities (Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia). With winter approaching, the attacks, she said, “renew fears that this winter will be catastrophic for millions of Ukrainians, who face the prospect of

Overnight blasts near Ukraine nuclear plant are ‘playing with fire!’ – UN nuclear chief |

In a statement issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said that that blasts yesterday evening and again this morning further underlined “the urgent need for measures to help prevent a nuclear accident there”. “As I have said many times before, you’re playing with fire!”. Renewed shelling In what

From the Field: In Ukraine, ‘I have grown used to the endless fear’

Living with fear and the daily threat of death is something that all Ukrainians have had to reckon with since Russia’s invasion of 24 February, and local UN staff are no exception.

Ukraine war: Risks of spillover ‘remain all too real’, Security Council hears |

Russian missiles and drones have rained down on several cities, including the capital, Kyiv, she reported, destroying or damaging homes and severely disrupting critical services. “I must say it again: attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law,” she stressed. ‘No end in sight’ Meanwhile, military dynamics on the ground continue