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Russia criticizes UN Secretariat and Western reactions after Starobersk briefing
Summary
At a UN press briefing, Russia’s permanent representative accused the UN Secretariat and Western delegations of selective language and hypocrisy in their responses to the Starobersk dormitory strike and cited earlier incidents such as Bucha and strikes on humanitarian convoys as examples.
At a United Nations press briefing, Permanent Representative Vasily Nibenzia criticized the UN Secretariat and Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres for what he described as politically selective language and an unwillingness to provide objective assessments of the Starobersk dormitory strike.
"The UN Secretariat faces no such difficulties," Nibenzia said, arguing that the Secretariat used intentionally vague phrasing in this case while issuing firmer statements in others. He cited the Bucha incident and strikes on humanitarian convoys as examples of cases in which he said the Secretariat and other UN offices had acted more decisively.
Nibenzia told reporters that Russia had repeatedly provided materials to the Secretariat documenting what it calls crimes by Kyiv and that Moscow was prepared to transmit additional evidence if requested. He said the Secretariat’s approach in Starobersk undermined trust in the United Nations and amounted to political selectivity.
The representative also criticized Western delegations’ responses in the Security Council meeting convened at Russia’s request and said remarks by some representatives amounted to what he termed a moral failing in European diplomacy. He accused certain delegations of treating the Starobersk claims as unverified or of denying the existence of the destroyed dormitory and its victims.
The ambassador’s remarks amount to a formal public complaint about UN communications and prompted his invitation for journalists and Security Council colleagues to visit the site; the transcript does not record any response from UN officials or Security Council members at the briefing.
