Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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November 20, 2025 Peace and security
Kaeko Goto, Acting Head of the Division for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas at the UN Department of Political Affairs, spoke at a Security Council meeting on Thursday with strong condemnation of the escalation of the war in Ukraine and its consequences for the civilian population.
According to Goto, Ukrainian civilians continue to "bear the brunt of the Russian Federation's intensifying air campaign." She noted that strikes on energy infrastructure have caused "massive and prolonged power outages in most regions of the country, leaving millions without heat, water, and public transportation as temperatures plunge."
According to her, hospitals, residential buildings, railways, schools, cultural sites, diplomatic institutions, and even kindergartens are being hit.
Tragedy in Ternopil
Goto emphasized that currently, "no region of Ukraine is safe." She cited the November 19 attack as an example: "Just yesterday, at least 26 people, including three children, were reportedly killed in a Russian drone and missile strike on the western city of Ternopil. Dozens more, including children, were reportedly injured. Many remain buried under rubble."
The attack was one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the war, the UN spokeswoman added.
Rising death toll
The UN expresses concern about the "alarming increase in civilian casualties." From January to October 2025, the number has already exceeded the total for the entire previous year. In Kyiv, the number of dead and wounded in the first ten months was almost four times higher than for the entire year 2024.
According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 14,534 Ukrainian civilians, including 745 children, have been killed since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Another 38,472 people, including 2,375 children, have been injured.
Strikes against Russia
Goto noted that the war is increasingly affecting the population of the Russian Federation. According to Russian authorities, in 2025, Ukrainian drone strikes killed 392 people, including 22 children, in Russia and in the areas of Ukraine occupied by Russia. The UN is unable to confirm this information, Goto noted.
Nuclear safety
Goto's speech focused on nuclear safety risks. She recalled that on September 23, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant "lost external power for the tenth time since February 2022." After a month-long outage, the plant was reconnected to the grid on October 23 thanks to repairs carried out under a localized ceasefire brokered by the IAEA.
"Any nuclear incident would have unimaginable consequences not only for Ukraine and the Russian Federation, but also far beyond their borders. Such a risk must be prevented at all costs," Goto stated.
A Call for Peace
In closing her speech, Kaeko Goto emphasized that nearly four years after the war began, as the number of attacks and casualties mount, calls for an immediate and complete ceasefire become even more important.
Goto reiterated the UN Secretary-General's call for a complete, immediate and unconditional ceasefire as the first step towards a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace.
The humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating.
Speaking on behalf of Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher, Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said the impact of the war on civilians was becoming increasingly devastating.
According to her, approximately 1,500 people remain without access to water and medical care in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, while 3,000 residents in Lyman are beyond the reach of humanitarian aid. This year alone, the World Health Organization has recorded over 500 attacks on medical facilities, including the strike on the children's hospital in Kherson.
Vosornou emphasized: "International humanitarian law requires that all feasible measures be taken to prevent and minimize harm to civilians. Indiscriminate attacks… are strictly prohibited. These fundamental rules must be respected."
According to the UN, 3.7 million people remain displaced within Ukraine, and nearly six million are refugees abroad. From January to September, the UN and its partners provided assistance to more than 4.2 million people, but access to many frontline areas and occupied territories remains extremely limited.
Concluding her speech, Vosornu praised the resilience of Ukrainians: "Teachers teach in underground shelters, doctors operate in the absence of electricity, and volunteers risk their lives delivering aid along mined roads. But resilience is no substitute for protection, safety, dignity, and respect for international law."
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.