Ukraine: "horrific levels of destruction and suffering" - Security Council Briefing - United Nations

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The New Year has brought “no peace or even respite to Ukraine,” with renewed fighting and large-scale aerial attacks hitting civilians and critical infrastructure, a top UN political affairs official said.

Briefing the Security Council, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo said large-scale assaults by the Russian Federation have resulted in “horrific levels of destruction and suffering” across the country.

DiCarlo said that overnight between 8 and 9 January, Russia reportedly launched 242 drones and 36 missiles against Ukraine. In Kyiv, at least four people were reportedly killed and 25 others injured, including a paramedic responding to emergency calls who was killed in what was described as a “double-tap” strike.

She said energy facilities and residential buildings were damaged, leaving nearly half of the city and hundreds of thousands of residents without heating, while the Embassy of Qatar was also damaged.

She added that on the same day, areas of Ukraine’s western Lviv region near the Polish border were reportedly targeted by an intermediate-range ballistic missile known as “Oreshnik,” marking the second time the weapon has been fired at Ukraine since 2024.

DiCarlo said the system is believed to be capable of carrying nuclear weapons, raising concerns over its deployment, and that Ukrainian authorities reported damage to gas distribution pipelines. - 01/12/2026.