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December 10, 2025 UN

The top news of the day in the UN and around the world: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for harnessing the energy of social movements for transformative reforms; one of the largest humanitarian disasters of modern times is unfolding in Afghanistan; the evacuation of civilians continues amid intense fighting in the frontline regions of Ukraine; and the UN chief has begun his visit to Saudi Arabia.

Protection of human rights

Human rights are under attack worldwide, according to Volker Türk, the UN's top human rights official. He noted that the past year "has been difficult"—against the backdrop of declining funding for human rights activities, anti-rights movements are increasingly gaining resources and increasing their influence. Despite these trends, Türk emphasized, in many countries, young people are taking to the streets and engaging in social media activism, speaking out against war, inequality, corruption, and repression. Türk called on governments to "harness the energy of social movements" as a potential for transformation, rather than suppressing them.

Security Council on Afghanistan

At a meeting of the UN Security Council, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher stated that Afghanistan is facing one of the largest humanitarian disasters of modern times. Nearly 22 million Afghans will require assistance by 2026. In 2025, more than 2.6 million refugees, primarily from Iran and Pakistan, will return to the country. Most of them are women and children. Furthermore, the country was rocked by two major earthquakes this year. The UN is requesting $1.7 billion in aid for Afghanistan next year.

The UN provides assistance to Ukraine

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that the evacuation of civilians continues amid intense fighting in frontline regions of Ukraine. According to the latest report from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in the country, civilian casualties increased by 37 percent in both frontline and urban areas between June and November of this year, compared to the previous six months. With the support of UN agencies, non-governmental organizations are providing assistance to residents of the affected regions.

UN chief visits Saudi Arabia

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Guterres began his visit to Saudi Arabia today. He praised the Kingdom's cooperation with the United Nations. In the capital, Riyadh, he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. They discussed a range of regional issues and the current geopolitical situation. The UN chief also plans to meet with the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister and Energy Minister.

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December 10, 2025 Human rights

On Wednesday, Australia launched the world's first ban on social media use by children and adolescents under 16. The official goal of the ban is to protect young people from cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, and harmful content that harms mental health.

While other countries are considering similar measures, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warns that age restrictions alone are not enough to keep children safe online.

"While we welcome the growing global commitment to protecting children in the digital environment, such bans pose new risks and can be counterproductive," the organization said in a statement.

For many children—especially isolated and marginalized ones—social media is a kind of "lifeline," facilitating communication, learning, and self-expression, the foundation believes. Furthermore, many will find ways to circumvent the ban, whether through VPNs or less-regulated platforms, making their protection even more difficult.

Child protection and human rights

"Age restrictions must be part of a broader strategy that protects children from harm, respects their right to privacy, and does not push them into unregulated, less safe digital spaces," UNICEF emphasized.

According to the foundation's representatives, legislative regulation should not replace online platforms' responsibility to invest in child safety. Age-restriction laws are no substitute for improved platform design and rigorous content moderation.

A call for joint action

UNICEF calls on governments, regulators and technology companies to work together with children and their families to create a safe and inclusive digital space that respects children's rights.

The United Nations Children's Fund recommends that countries help parents improve their digital literacy: "Today, they are being asked to do the impossible: control platforms they didn't create and algorithms they don't understand."

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk also commented on this matter: "We know how difficult it is for society to find a balance in protecting children online. When social media was launched, no one assessed their potential impact on human rights."

"It's important to monitor which methods work and which don't," added Volker Türk. "However, from a human rights perspective, the answer is clear: the interests of the child must be at the center of all decisions."

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December 10, 2025 Human rights

Human rights are under attack worldwide, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said on Human Rights Day, celebrated on December 10.

Turk noted that the past year "was difficult" – against the backdrop of declining funding for human rights activities, anti-rights movements are increasingly receiving resources and increasing their influence.

The Energy of Social Movements – Potential for Transformation

According to him, defense industry profits are growing rapidly, while funding for humanitarian aid and civil society organizations is declining. Revenues for the 100 largest defense companies reached a record $679 billion in 2024.

Human rights defenders around the world are attacked, face sanctions and prosecution, while those who order crimes remain unpunished.

Despite these trends, Türk emphasized, in many countries – from Nepal and Serbia to Ecuador, Tanzania, Indonesia, Morocco, and Peru – young people are taking to the streets and engaging in social media activities to protest war, inequality, corruption, and repression.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on governments to "harness the energy of social movements" as a potential for transformation, rather than suppress them.

“I call on governments around the world to harness the energy of these social movements to create opportunities for broader transformative reforms, rather than rushing to suppress them or label them as extremism and threats to national security,” Turk said.

He said the UN Human Rights Office he leads has lost about $90 million in revenue this year, leading to the loss of 300 jobs and cuts to key programs, including in Colombia, Myanmar, Tunisia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Türk specifically noted the rapid growth of anti-rights and anti-gender movements. These organizations receive funding from donors in Europe, Russia, and the United States. According to the European Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Rights, in Europe alone, they raised nearly $1.2 billion between 2019 and 2023.

Humanitarian consequences of conflicts

Türk paid special attention to the humanitarian consequences of the conflicts. In Gaza, he said, attacks continue, access to essential services remains limited, and the West Bank has seen an unprecedented level of attacks by Israeli forces and settlers.

The situation in Africa also remains grave: in the eastern part of the DR Congo, clashes continue between the army and the Rwandan-backed M23 group, while in Sudan, almost the entire population has been affected by the conflict between the country's armed forces and the Rapid Intervention Forces.

Speaking about Ukraine, Türk said the number of civilian casualties had risen by 24 percent compared to last year due to Russia's intensive use of long-range weapons and continued attempts to seize additional territory.

"Large-scale attacks on Ukraine's energy system have led to emergency and prolonged daily power outages, water supply, and heating interruptions in many areas," Türk said.

"Urgent steps must be taken to alleviate the suffering [of the population], including the return of displaced children, the exchange of prisoners of war and the unconditional release of civilians held by Russian authorities," he added.

In concluding his address, the High Commissioner noted that despite all the difficulties, the global movement in support of human rights remains unabated. He expressed confidence that journalists, human rights defenders, and youth initiatives will continue to make progress.

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December 10, 2025 Culture and education

From the textile traditions of Belarus and the culinary practices of Central Asia to the ritual dances of Kenya, UNESCO inscribed dozens of new forms of heritage on its lists this year. The decisions were made at the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which opened on December 8 in New Delhi, India.

Unlike monuments and historical sites, intangible cultural heritage encompasses crafts, customs, musical and ritual traditions, and social practices that communities pass on from generation to generation. UNESCO emphasizes that the richness of human traditions is at risk of being lost due to social, economic, and environmental challenges.

Heritage in urgent need of protection

This year, traditions from all over the world were inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

Among them is the Neglyubka textile tradition—the art of hand weaving and embroidery practiced in the village of Neglyubka in the Gomel region of Belarus. They create unique towels, household items, and clothing items. The tradition is primarily maintained by women, passing on skills within families, often from grandmothers and mothers to daughters. Neglyubka weaving is an important symbol of local identity and a factor in economic development, attracting tourists and researchers. However, the tradition is currently threatened by a dwindling number of artisans.

The list also includes the practice of making and playing the kobyz, a musical instrument common in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, an autonomous region within Uzbekistan. This ancient, two-stringed, bow-shaped instrument is handcrafted from local woods, with strings and a bow made of horsehair. The body is covered in leather and decorated with carvings. The kobyz is more than just a musical instrument; it is a key element of the nomadic cultural heritage. It is played by storytellers, or jyrau, who perform epic works using the throat singing technique. This tradition fosters community, transmits historical memory, and maintains cultural ties between generations.

Also on this year's list are ritual dances in Kenya, color printing on wooden boards in Vietnam, playing the clay musical instrument borindo in Pakistan, mud house building techniques in Panama, traditional ceramics in Paraguay, sea salt production in the Philippines, moliceiro boat making in Portugal, epic singing with lahut in Albania, and the "landship" tradition of Barbados.

Living heritage of global significance

UNESCO also expanded its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

It incorporates Tajik traditions associated with sumanak, a traditional Navruz dish made from sprouted wheat with butter, flour, and walnuts. The preparation process takes up to a day and is accompanied by women singing and dancing, while men tend the fire and perform physical labor.

Also added to the list are Georgian practices related to the cultivation and harvesting of endemic wheat varieties, traditional bread baking, and agricultural rituals. Wheat symbolizes life, prosperity, and the continuity of generations. These traditions are an important part of Georgian life.

The Kyrgyz drink "maksym" and its unique preparation methods have also been added to the UNESCO list. This thick, fermented drink is made by frying flour in mutton fat and then fermenting it. Its preparation brings families together and symbolizes prosperity and hospitality.

The list also includes: the ceremonial men's cloak bisht (Middle East), the Venezuelan genre of joropo, the Bolivian festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the Argentine genre of cuarteto, Tangail sare weaving in Bangladesh, miniatures in the style of Behzad (Afghanistan), Belgian puppet theater, Christmas traditions of Belize, Bulgarian bagpipes, the wedding procession "zaffa" in the countries of Africa and the Middle East, and other traditions.

UNESCO emphasizes that rapid social change, migration, climate change, and a loss of interest in history among young people threaten the disappearance of traditions that have shaped the cultural identity of peoples for centuries. New designations help attract attention, resources, and support to ensure the survival of these unique practices.

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December 10, 2025 Humanitarian aid

At a meeting of the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher said Afghanistan is facing one of the largest humanitarian disasters in modern times.

Nearly 22 million Afghans will require aid in 2026, making the country the third-worst humanitarian crisis in the world after Sudan and Yemen.

Famine and natural disasters

To help 17.5 million people in Afghanistan, the UN is appealing for $1.7 billion, of which $375.9 million is urgently needed to help 3.9 million of the most vulnerable Afghans. The number of people suffering from hunger in Afghanistan has increased for the first time in four years, reaching 17.4 million. More than 2.6 million refugees will have returned to the country in 2025, and more than four million in the past two years alone. Most of them are women and children, who face severe restrictions on education, employment, and access to healthcare.

The country was further devastated by two major earthquakes in August and November, which claimed thousands of lives and destroyed entire villages. Drought has affected 3.4 million people this year, reducing crop yields and accelerating the depletion of water resources.

Restrictions on women's employment

Tom Fletcher emphasized that restrictions on women's work in humanitarian organizations seriously complicate the provision of foreign aid. In September, the country's de facto authorities banned female UN staff from visiting offices, and in October, from working at key reception centers for returning refugees. Furthermore, humanitarian operations face bureaucratic obstacles and pressure from local authorities.

External financing deficit

The lack of funding has already had dire consequences. For the first time in years, with the onset of cold weather, international food supplies were almost nonexistent: only about a million people received aid, down from 5.6 million the previous year. 305 food centers were closed, depriving 1.1 million children of vital support. 422 medical facilities also closed, cutting off access to healthcare for three million people.

In closing his remarks, Tom Fletcher made three key requests of the Security Council members: to uphold the humanitarian exception in Resolution 2615, insist on lifting restrictions on women aid workers and funding a global humanitarian plan to avoid further cuts to aid for the people of Afghanistan.

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December 9, 2025 Humanitarian aid

Naed was only 16 years old when armed men attacked her village. The militants shot indiscriminately at local residents, including her grandfather and uncle. Girls and young women were raped or kidnapped.

"Naed managed to escape, but what she had to endure was horrific," UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said Tuesday, describing her story.

Sudan is facing a severe humanitarian crisis since conflict broke out in 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Intervention Forces (RSF), which now controls the devastated North Darfur capital of El Fasher after more than 500 days of siege.

Catherine Russell, who recently visited Sudan, called for urgent action to protect children and civilians in general. An estimated 10 million people, half of them children, have been displaced from their homes as a result of the conflict.

"Ongoing Violence"

During a visit to the east of the country, Russell met with women and adolescents receiving psychosocial support and skills training at a UNICEF-supported center. While this center provides assistance to many, such services are extremely limited in the states of Darfur and Kordofan due to extreme security instability.

"Children in Sudan live in conditions of relentless violence, hunger, and fear," Russell emphasized. "Women and girls bear the brunt of the crisis, including horrific levels of sexual violence."

Speaking to journalists via video link from Sudan on Tuesday, Fabrizia Falcione, a representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), described her meetings with those who managed to escape El Fasher. Among them was a 17-year-old girl with a six-month-old baby born as a result of rape.

None of the women she spoke to had received any prenatal care.

"They told me they preferred not to go to the hospital so as not to risk their lives on the way," Falcione said.

"We need normal toilets and bread."

When Falcione asked the displaced women what they needed most, they responded: proper toilets and bread. Earning a living came third on the list of priorities.

"There are no toilets near their tents. There's no light in the camp at night either," Falcione said. "And these are pregnant women without male companions."

Fighting in and around El Fasher has forced more than 106,000 people to flee their homes. Temporary refugee centers are overcrowded, and entire neighborhoods have been transformed into vast informal settlements.

UNFPA is providing maternal support and psychosocial services for survivors of gender-based violence, while UNICEF is identifying and registering unaccompanied children and restoring access to safe water.

Russell said that wherever she went during her visit to Sudan, children told her the same thing: "All we want is peace." "The international community must do more to fulfill that desire," she concluded.

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December 9, 2025 Peace and security

Mothers forced to starve for long periods in Gaza are giving birth to premature or low-birth-weight babies who die in intensive care units or desperately fight for their lives, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned on Tuesday.

Speaking via video link from the war-torn enclave, UNICEF communications manager Tess Ingram said at least 165 children had died "painful and yet preventable deaths" related to malnutrition.

Another major problem is acute hunger among pregnant and lactating women and the “devastating domino effect” of lack of healthy nutrition for thousands of newborns.

"I've seen babies in Gaza hospitals weighing less than one kilogram," Ingram said. She explained that low-birth-weight babies die at a rate approximately 20 times higher than normal-weight babies.

A UNICEF representative noted that before the war, an average of 250 babies per month were born in Gaza weighing less than 2.5 kilograms—about five percent of all newborns. In the first half of 2025, this figure rose to 10 percent.

"Low birth weight is typically caused by poor maternal nutrition, increased stress, and limited prenatal care," Ingram said. "In Gaza, we see a combination of all three, and the response to this situation is too slow and insufficient."

The realities of war

The UNICEF representative added that in October alone, 8,300 pregnant and breastfeeding women were hospitalized in Gaza for treatment of acute malnutrition.

"This trend suggests that we will continue to see low birth weight babies being born in Gaza for many months to come," she said.

The UN responded to the situation by supplying the enclave with incubators, ventilators, and other vital equipment destroyed during the conflict.

UNICEF has provided tens of thousands of pregnant and breastfeeding women with high-calorie food supplements to prevent malnutrition. The UN Children's Fund also screens children for acute malnutrition and includes them in treatment programs.

Obstacles to aid delivery

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said there were "ongoing obstacles" to delivering aid to the most vulnerable people, including security concerns, customs delays and denials of entry at crossing points.

Opening the Rafah border crossing in southern Gaza could increase the flow of humanitarian aid and reduce the number of children suffering from malnutrition, Ingram noted.

"We need all forms of aid to flow freely, especially nutritious foods, through commercial channels," she added, emphasizing that local markets need to be stocked so that prices can drop and foods such as fruits and vegetables, meat, and dairy products become affordable to families.

A UNICEF representative emphasized that the two-month ceasefire "was meant to bring safety to families, not further losses." She noted that more than 70 children have been killed since the ceasefire on October 10.

"Entire generations, including those born during the current ceasefire, will be forever traumatized by what they experienced," Ingram said.

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December 9, 2025 Human rights

Ukraine's civilian population faces near-daily attacks and deteriorating access to basic services, according to a report released today by the UN Human Rights Office. The document documents alarming trends, including rising civilian casualties, ongoing attacks on Ukraine's energy system, and the systematic torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war.

According to the Human Rights Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (HRMMU), July saw the highest number of civilian deaths and injuries in Ukraine since April 2022. A massive drone and missile strike on November 19 killed at least 36 civilians in Ternopil, marking the deadliest attack in western Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began.

Residents of regions near the front lines, especially the elderly and people with disabilities, have faced a sharp deterioration in living conditions, the report states. Many hospitals and clinics have been destroyed or forced to close, leaving the population without access to basic medical care.

According to the Mission, in October and November 2025, the Russian Federation carried out eight large-scale, coordinated missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's power grid. These strikes caused power outages in many regions, with power outages lasting up to 18 hours a day. In some areas, people were left without water and heat for many hours or even days.

The plight of prisoners of war

From May to August 2025, Ukraine and Russia conducted the largest prisoner of war exchanges since 2022, but the HRMMU did not record any improvement in the situation of those held in captivity.

"Of the 187 Ukrainian prisoners of war recently released by the Russian Federation, 185 reported severe beatings, torture by forced positions, electric shocks, suffocation, and dog attacks. One hundred forty-one (75 percent) reported being subjected to sexual violence. Those interviewed also described extremely harsh conditions, limited access to medical care, and violence during their capture, transfer, arrival at new facilities, and throughout their internment," said UN Mission Head Danielle Bell.

The HRMMU also interviewed 137 prisoners of war held by Ukraine, including 10 third-country nationals. More than half of them, including 37 prisoners of war captured this year, reported torture and ill-treatment during interrogation or transfer before their arrival at official internment facilities. The mission enjoyed unimpeded access to these facilities and continues to note that conditions of detention there generally comply with international standards.

The report also documented an increase in the number of extrajudicial executions of prisoners of war. At least four reports of the killing of 10 Ukrainian servicemen after their capture by Russian forces were deemed credible. Furthermore, four executions of Russian prisoners of war by Ukrainian forces were documented, and credible information was received regarding three additional incidents, which are currently being verified.

Restrictions on rights and freedoms

The mission reports that violations of international law continue in the territories of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation. The report describes increasing restrictions on freedom of movement, expression, religion, and access to independent information. Civilians faced increasing pressure to accept Russian citizenship, and everyday life became virtually impossible without a Russian passport. The report describes instances of arbitrary arrests, criminal prosecution for criticism of the "special military operation," the use of coerced confessions, and the retroactive application of criminal laws.

Property rights have also been significantly damaged, the report states. Occupation authorities continued to implement legislation allowing them to seize residential properties deemed "abandoned" by Ukrainians. As of November 2025, at least 5,557 residential units in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions had been registered and transferred to municipal ownership under this scheme. Ukrainians forced to leave the occupied territories reported being unable to participate in legal proceedings to confirm their status and retain their property.

Deteriorating access to water was also reported in some areas of the occupied Donetsk region. In some settlements, water was supplied only once every few days; many complained of poor quality and high prices in stores.

The report highlights the efforts of the Ukrainian authorities and humanitarian organizations to support civilians affected by the fighting, including large-scale evacuations, the opening of transit centers, and the provision of medical, psychosocial, and legal assistance – despite extremely difficult and increasingly dangerous conditions.

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December 9, 2025 International law

The world is facing an alarming decline in respect for international law: armed conflicts are increasingly targeting civilians, and the risk of mass atrocities is rapidly growing. This was stated by the new UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Chalok Beyani, in her first interview since her appointment in August of this year.

Beyani recalled that his post was created by the UN Security Council following the tragedies in Rwanda and Srebrenica. Today, he said, parallels with the current crises are evident in many regions of the world. "We are witnessing massive violations of international human rights law, direct attacks on civilians, and a blatant disregard for humanitarian law. The risk of atrocities is extremely high," he noted.

The advisor paid special attention to Sudan, where the conflict in Darfur has been raging for decades. "Essentially, nothing has changed. The collapse of the civilian government has only exacerbated the crisis," he said, recalling that back in the 1990s, the situation in the region was the focus of a UN commission investigation.

The role of international law

The Office for the Prevention of Genocide and the Protection of Civilians serves as an "early warning system" within the UN. It informs the Secretary-General, the Security Council, and other bodies when a risk of mass crimes is detected. In its work, the Office relies on Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 1948It monitors developments in armed conflicts on ethnic or religious grounds, the spread of hate speech, and the erosion of the rule of law.

"Our task is not to study genocide, but to prevent it," Beyani emphasized, adding that the final decisions in each case are made by international courts.

© UNICEF/M. Jamal

Displaced persons camp in Sudan.

Judicial precedents and liability

The advisor noted the importance of effective justice systems for protecting vulnerable groups. Beyani cited the 2012 conviction of Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga by the International Criminal Court for using child soldiers. This conviction, he said, prompted other warlords to publicly renounce such practices.

Beyani also mentioned the International Court of Justice's provisional measures in the case of South Africa v. Israel, concerning the possible application of the Genocide Convention in Gaza, as well as the upcoming hearing of the Gambia v. Myanmar case. "Prevention also includes punishment," he emphasized.

New threats: disinformation and climate change

Among the current challenges, Beyani highlighted the rise of hate speech and disinformation online. His office is collaborating with tech companies, including Meta and Google, as well as religious and community leaders, to counter incitement to violence.

The advisor noted that climate change and environmental degradation are increasingly becoming catalysts for conflict. "We see tensions over resources, from the Sahel to small island states threatened by flooding. Climate itself is not the cause, but it amplifies other risk factors," he explained.

Indigenous peoples caught up in disputes over land and natural resources are particularly vulnerable in this situation. "Their identity and way of life make them particularly vulnerable to threats," Beyani noted.

Remember and act

The adviser says his office focuses primarily on diplomacy and preventative measures. "It was created for non-public interaction, consultations with the Secretary-General and the Security Council, and official statements are made only when necessary," he said.

Beyani emphasized that preventing genocide requires not only decisive action, but also preserving the memory of the victims of past crimes.

"We must remember the UN's promise of 'never again' and the foundation upon which the Genocide Convention stands. But even this is not enough. We must strengthen our response tools, build trust, and act proactively," the adviser emphasized.

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December 9, 2025 Peace and security

2025 has become one of the deadliest years for the people of Ukraine. The number of civilian casualties from January to November of this year is 24 percent higher than the same period in 2024. Kaeko Goto, Acting Head of the Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas Division at the Department of Political Affairs, warned this during a meeting of the UN Security Council.

According to her, the Russian Federation is intensifying air attacks across Ukraine. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has confirmed the deaths of 14,775 Ukrainian civilians, including 755 children. Another 39,322 people, including 2,416 children, have been injured. The actual figures are likely significantly higher, Goto noted.

Attacks on civilian infrastructure

The UN representative also stated that systematic attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure threaten to leave millions of people without heat, water, and the ability to travel during winter weather. Furthermore, according to her statement, more than 340 educational institutions in the country have been damaged or destroyed this year.

Goto noted that local authorities in the Russian Federation also continue to report civilian casualties as a result of attacks by Ukrainian armed forces and damage to civilian infrastructure as a result of long-range strikes on military and energy facilities in the Russian Federation. However, due to lack of access and limited information, the UN is unable to verify these reports.

Goto stressed that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited by international law, wherever they occur.

The situation in the Black Sea

She also noted the UN's concern over recent reports of incidents involving shipping and port infrastructure in the Black Sea. On December 5, Bulgarian authorities began evacuating the crew of an oil tanker that caught fire near the Black Sea port of Ahtopol. Two Russian tankers were reportedly hit by Ukrainian drones in Turkey's exclusive economic zone on November 29. Furthermore, on December 2, another Russian-flagged tanker was reportedly attacked by a drone off the Turkish coast. There are also reports of Russian attacks on infrastructure in the Ukrainian port of Odessa, as well as suspected Ukrainian attacks on the Azov port of Temryuk in Russia's Krasnodar region.

"While no casualties have been reported, these incidents represent another step in the current dangerous cycle of escalation," Goto said.

Escalation risks

"We continue to call on all interested parties to reduce tensions and prevent the risk of further escalation of the conflict. This certainly applies to the enormous danger that war poses to nuclear facilities," she continued.

According to the speaker, despite the efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant continues to experience power outages due to ongoing attacks in the surrounding area. The IAEA also conducted a comprehensive safety assessment of the New Safe Confinement at the Chernobyl facility, which concluded that the structure has lost its essential functions.

“We remain deeply concerned about the systematic violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the territories of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation,” Goto added.

"The people of Ukraine want peace—just and lasting. Meeting these aspirations and ensuring the region's long-term stability must remain our collective priority," the UN representative emphasized. "That's why we hope that ongoing diplomatic efforts, led by the United States, will help bring this war to a negotiated end."

Humanitarian situation

Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya, speaking on behalf of UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, said that rocket and drone attacks across Ukraine continue to kill and injure civilians and disrupt vital services.

She said older people, people with disabilities, and families with small children are increasingly choosing to evacuate after days without heat, clean water, or a stable power supply.

"Last week, a strike in Kherson damaged a thermal power plant serving thousands of residents. A doctor from a nearby clinic told our team, 'People can survive without electricity for a while, but not without heat. Without heat, the condition of our elderly patients deteriorates within hours,'" Msuya said.

Efforts to help Ukrainians

A spokeswoman for the UN Humanitarian Office said 44 convoys have delivered essential supplies to 50,000 civilians in hard-to-reach areas of Ukraine along the front line this year.

However, donors have provided only 65 percent of the $278 million needed to implement Winter Response PlanPublished the day before Global Humanitarian Plan highlights the scale of the need: 10.8 million Ukrainians will need assistance in 2026.

"The lack of funding is costing lives. Families are living without heat during freezing temperatures; women and girls are losing access to safe spaces; and elderly people in frontline areas are left without the means to evacuate," warned Msuya.

She called on Security Council members to use all available tools to ensure respect for humanitarian law and to provide the necessary funding to support the people of Ukraine.

The material is being updated

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