„This latest series of strikes corresponds to the alarming trend of increasingly intense strikes on populated areas,“ UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ spokesperson Farhan Haq told journalists.
Read more The weather forecaster became a witness to a powerful storm: told how it all happened
“Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure are a clear violation of international humanitarian law and must be stopped immediately,” he added.
At least 17 people were killed this week in drone and missile strikes by Russia in Kyiv and the capital region, with several dozen more injured. Meanwhile, several people were killed in Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory.
“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the recent large-scale missile and drone strikes carried out by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation against Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities,” Haq said.
Guterres “also condemns the recent drone attacks by Ukraine on several regions of the Russian Federation.”
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported on Thursday that its air defense systems shot down 605 Ukrainian drones overnight over several Russian regions, as well as the illegally annexed Crimea and the Black and Azov Seas.
Meanwhile, Russian attacks in Ukraine overnight into Thursday claimed at least six civilian lives, and 22 people were injured, officials said.
Read more Ed Butvilas, who scored a «Riestainį» against his opponent, achieved an impressive victory
In recent weeks, Moscow forces have been bombing Ukraine with ballistic missiles, which, according to Kyiv officials, can only be stopped by the US-made Patriot air defense system. However, the war in Iran has depleted Patriot interceptor missile stocks, leaving Ukraine vulnerable to Russian shelling.
“We are making every effort in cooperation with all partners who can help supply interceptor missiles to protect ourselves from such crazy Russian strikes on life, people, and civilian facilities,” President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote late Wednesday night on social media after Russian shelling in the Kyiv region claimed 17 lives.
As the war continues, now nearly five years without any signs of a peace agreement, civilian casualties in this conflict increased in 2026, the United Nations warns.
Ukraine often launches hundreds of drones into Russian territory at night in response to Moscow’s drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and towns.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and has continuously attacked its neighboring country since then.
Read more Revealed the reason why even happy men are unfaithful: do you agree?
