The intensification of Russian attacks on Ukraine threatens to trigger a humanitarian crisis as winter approaches, as attacks on cities and critical infrastructure could leave millions of people without electricity, heating, and water, said Khaled Khiairi, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, during a UN Security Council meeting, noting that Russian attacks have reached “a new horrific level.”
According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), more than 100 civilians were killed and at least 429 were injured in Ukraine over the course of the week as a result of Russian strikes.
Hiari noted that strikes on bridges, educational institutions, and energy infrastructure are causing disruptions to electricity and water supplies, while prolonged air raid alerts are intensifying the psychological pressure on the civilian population. He called for an immediate halt to attacks on energy facilities and populated areas.
“All attacks directed against the civilian population and civilian infrastructure, wherever they occur, constitute a violation of international humanitarian law and must cease immediately,” the UN representative stated.
During the meeting, Gemma Connell, Director of the Crisis Response Division at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, speaking on behalf of UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher, announced a $358 million winter response plan. It aims to assist 2 million of the most vulnerable people by providing heating, shelter, and food.
“No amount of preparedness can replace the protection of the infrastructure on which the civilian population depends,” Connell emphasized, calling for the protection of civilians, unimpeded humanitarian access, safe evacuation, and the safety of humanitarian personnel.
Ukraine’s representative to the UN, Andriy Melnyk, stated at the meeting that Russian attacks on the civilian population have reached an unprecedented level of brutality. According to him, UN observers confirmed the deaths of 2,222 civilians and injuries to more than 13,000 people in Ukraine in 2026. He also mentioned strikes on the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and on bridges that provide civilians with access to hospitals, food, and safe places.
Stavros Lambrinidis, Head of the European Union Delegation to the UN, warned that attacks on Black Sea ports threaten global food security. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), wheat prices rose by 6.3% in September.
Chiari also drew attention to incidents involving drones near Moldova and attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea. Separately, he reported that in the occupied town of Oleshky, according to available information, approximately 2,000 civilians, including 35 children, remain trapped without food or medical supplies. An urgent local ceasefire is necessary for their evacuation.
