UN says Security Council to meet on Ukraine as winter outages deepen humanitarian needs

The United Nations spokesperson announced a Security Council meeting at 3 p.m. focused on Ukraine and said Under‑Secretary‑General Rosemary DeCarlo will brief members on the renewed fighting and its civilian toll. "The new year has brought no peace or even respite for Ukraine, but renewed fighting and devastation," the spokesperson said.

The briefing previewed that some attacks have struck energy infrastructure, cutting power and heating for hundreds of thousands of households with overnight temperatures near minus 20 degrees centigrade. The spokesperson said repair efforts in Kyiv were ongoing to restore electricity and heating services and that water supply had already been fully restored in parts of the city. "Complementing the work of utility companies and national rescuers, aid workers provided hot meals, water, and psychological support, and also deployed mobile warming centers," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also said Ramesh Rajasingham from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs will warn council members about impacts on civilians, especially from strikes on energy facilities. An interagency convoy delivered medicine, hygiene items, shelter and solar lamps to Svyatorsk in Donetsk, a locality where humanitarian access remains limited because of security concerns.

The briefing noted that the secretary‑general is expected to underscore recent use of a so‑called "Oher Oreshnik" missile in Ukraine and that the UN will launch a 2026 humanitarian needs and response plan urging continued international support for the most vulnerable.

The Security Council meeting and DeCarlo's briefing are scheduled to occur later the same day; the spokesperson said she would share further details after the session.