Ukraine, backed by 30 other nations, has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council in response to a massive Russian missile attack across Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian representative to the UN, Serhii Kyslytsia, informed Voice of America about the development.
Following operational consultations with neighboring countries and other partners on 29 December, Ukraine submitted a joint request for an urgent UN Security Council meeting to discuss Russia’s extensive attack.
“We insist that the meeting takes place today,” Kyslytsia emphasized, noting that UN Secretary-General António Guterres, currently in Europe, is preparing a statement regarding the shelling. Denise Brown, the UN Coordinator in Ukraine, published a statement condemning Russia’s continued violation of international humanitarian law, attacking civilian targets and the civilian population in Ukraine. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed his shock at Russia’s massive strikes in Ukraine and the resulting civilian casualties and injuries.
According to military reports, Russian forces used 158 missiles and drones against Ukraine on the night of 29 December, with Ukrainian air defense forces shooting down 114 targets.
On the night of 29 December, Russia launched a widespread attack on Ukraine, targeting cities including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Lviv, Zaporizhzhia, and others. According to the latest reports, at least 26 people were killed, and over 120 were injured.