United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the Security Council in New York, highlighting the escalating dangers of the Ukraine war. He stated that the latest Russian attacks on May 23 and 24, along with the potential for further strikes, underscore the critical nature of the current situation. Guterres emphasized that the present course is unsustainable and must change, warning that the intensifying conflict risks spiraling “out of control” due to miscalculation and unforeseen consequences. He called for “immediate and sustained de-escalation” and a “full and unconditional ceasefire.”
Massive Attacks Reported
Russia launched approximately 90 long-range missiles and 600 drones in overnight attacks, resulting in at least five deaths and over 100 injuries across Ukraine. The capital city, Kyiv, sustained the heaviest damage. Debris from the attacks also affected diplomatic premises and compounds housing UN agencies, though no UN personnel were harmed.
Rising Civilian Casualties
The emergency meeting occurred amidst growing concerns over increasing civilian casualties and ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure in both Ukraine and Russia. The UN human rights office (OHCHR) verified 815 civilian deaths and 4,174 injuries in Ukraine between January and April 2026, surpassing figures from the same period in 2025. Verified UN data indicates that since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, over 15,000 civilians, including nearly 800 children, have been killed in Ukraine.
Call for Return to Negotiations
Earlier, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged both parties to return to negotiations, stating, “I strongly urge restraint. Resume negotiations and end the suffering.” Türk pointed to recent attacks with significant civilian casualties, including a Russian strike on a residential building in Kyiv that reportedly killed 24 civilians, and a Ukrainian strike on an educational complex in Starobilsk, which Russian authorities claimed killed 21 and injured 44. The OHCHR noted that publicly available information indicated civilian casualties, including students, in the Starobilsk incident.
‘Time for Peace is Now’
Secretary-General Guterres reiterated that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure violates international humanitarian law. He appealed for renewed diplomatic efforts to achieve “a just, lasting and comprehensive peace” in accordance with the UN Charter. “The choice is clear. The responsibility is clear. The time for peace is now,” he concluded.
