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UN briefing warns of renewed strikes on Ukraine, cites civilian toll and nuclear risks
Summary
Rosemary DeCarlo told the United Nations that recent large-scale drone and missile strikes have caused widespread civilian harm and infrastructure damage across Ukraine, cited OHCHR-verified casualty figures, and warned that military activity near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant risks a catastrophic accident while urging an immediate, unconditional ceasefire.
Rosemary DeCarlo addressed the assembly and condemned renewed large-scale attacks on Ukraine, saying the Russian Federationhas intensified assaults that have "deprived millions of Ukrainians of electricity, heating, and water for prolonged periods." She cited recent strikes that she said included "242 drones and 36 missiles," reported deaths and injuries in Kyiv, and damage to civilian infrastructure including an embassy.
DeCarlo said the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has verified at least 14,999 civilians killed, including 763 children, and 40,601 civilians injured, including 2,486 children, since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022; she added the actual figures are likely higher and that monitoring is limited by access. She also reported strikes on 17 January in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions that reportedly left more than 1,000,000 people without running water or heating, and attacks near residential buildings that injured civilians.
DeCarlo highlighted attacks on Ukraine's ports and shipping, saying two foreign-flagged civilian vessels in the Odessa region were hit by drones and that recent strikes have damaged cooking oil storage and port facilities. She reported that an intermediate-range ballistic missile referred to as the "Oreshnik" was fired at areas near the Polish border in Lviv region, noting concerns that the system is believed to be capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
On nuclear safety, DeCarlo warned that Europe's largest nuclear power plant, in Zaporizhzhia and temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation, lost power from one of its high-voltage lines on a night in March because of hostilities. She said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported a significant increase in military activity around the site, including explosions heard close to the facility, and described the IAEA's efforts to establish temporary ceasefire zones to allow essential repair work. "These events are extremely alarming," she said, urging both sides to engage constructively with the IAEA and to cease military activities near the plant to reduce the risk of a catastrophic accident.
DeCarlo also noted reports from local authorities inside the Russian Federation about alleged Ukrainian strikes that reportedly caused civilian casualties and service outages, including a claim that 600,000 residents in Belgorod Oblast were left without electricity, heating and water after an incident in September; she said the United Nations lacked access to verify those reports. She listed additional reports of damage and casualties from Kherson, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Sumy regions.
Reiterating the Secretary-General's stance, DeCarlo said "the war should never have started, and it must stop," and called for an "immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire" as a first step toward a just and lasting peace grounded in respect for international law and Ukraine's sovereignty. She said the United Nations remains ready to support meaningful efforts toward that end.
