Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific Khaled Khiari - Remarks to the Security Council on Ukraine, New York, 28 May 2026

Country: Ukraine Source: UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Delayed diplomacy in Ukraine deepens the threat to regional and international peace and security, ASG Khiari warns | United Nations Peace Operations Mr. President, As the Secretary-General just stated, today’s meeting takes place against the backdrop of an alarming escalation of the war in Ukraine. On the night of 23 to 24 May, the armed forces of the Russian Federation launched a massive strike across Ukraine, reportedly deploying as many as 90 long-range missiles and 600 drones. Among the weapons used was the so-called “Oreshnik” intermediate-range ballistic missile, which targeted the city of Bila Tserkva in central Ukraine. This marks the third known instance of the use of this weapon by the Russian Federation in Ukraine. At least five people were reported killed and at least 112 others injured across Ukraine, with the heaviest toll in Kyiv. The city’s more than two million residents endured over seven hours of explosions, impacting dozens of residential buildings. According to UNESCO, more than 30 cultural sites were reportedly damaged in this latest wave of attacks. The diplomatic residence of the Albanian Ambassador, and a compound housing the United Nations Resident Coordinator and several UN agencies, were impacted by falling debris from strikes in central Kyiv. Fortunately, no UN staff members were injured. Attacks continued into this week, impacting civilians across southern and eastern Ukraine. Russian Federation authorities have also reported rising civilian casualties from alleged Ukrainian strikes. On 25 May, two civilians were reportedly killed in the Belgorod and Bryansk regions. Mr. President, We remain deeply concerned over the recent announcement by the Russian Federation of plans to conduct, and I quot...

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