UN representative tells Security Council civilian deaths and displacement in Ukraine remain high, urges more funding and humanitarian access

An unnamed representative told the United Nations Security Council on March 31, 2025, that recent Russian air and drone strikes in Ukraine continue to inflict heavy civilian casualties and extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, and urged member states to increase funding and ensure unimpeded humanitarian access.

The representative said a recent strike in the Dnipro region killed 18 civilians, including nine children, and injured dozens after a children—s playground and nearby residential area were hit. "This was the single deadliest strike harming children since February 2022," the speaker said, citing verification by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The risks to civilians and the scale of need are large: the speaker said OHCHR had verified at least 12,910 civilian deaths, including 682 children, and nearly 30,700 injuries in Ukraine between Feb. 24, 2022, and March 31, 2025; nearly 3.7 million people remained internally displaced; and almost 7 million refugees from Ukraine were recorded globally. The…