The UN chief António Guterres condemned in the strongest terms the large-scale missile and drone attacks, his Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said on Friday.
Guterres appalled at attacks on civilians
“The Secretary-General is appalled by the continued killing and destruction and once again underlines that attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law; they are unacceptable and must end immediately,” Mr. Haq said.
Multiple types of missiles and drones were launched throughout the early morning hours, disrupting water supplies in some areas and leaving more than 1.5 million Ukrainians without electricity across Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Odesa, Donetsk, Sumy and Kirovohrad.
“The targeting of energy infrastructure providing essential public services is a black-and-white issue – it is simply unacceptable,” UN High Representative of Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu told the Security Council on Friday morning. “The scale and scope of this devastation are appalling.”
Multiple types of missiles and drones were launched throughout the early morning hours, disrupting water supplies in some areas and leaving more than 1.5 million Ukrainians without electricity across Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Odesa, Donetsk, Sumy and Kirovohrad.
Humanitarian law ‘must be respected’
UN agencies on the ground roundly decried the targeted attacks, with UN Humanitarian Coordinator Denise Brown saying that rescue efforts have been deployed to help those in affected areas.
“I am outraged by the magnitude of today’s attacks by the Russian Armed Forces on energy infrastructure across Ukraine,” she said in a statement, adding that UN agencies continue to work with partners to deliver aid to those in need across Ukraine.
The wider impact of today’s attacks on critical civilian infrastructure is deepening the already dire humanitarian situation for millions of people in Ukraine, she warned, stressing that international humanitarian law explicitly safeguards civilians and civilian infrastructure and “must be respected”.
Echoing those concerns, Danielle Bell, head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, said “this morning’s attack is the largest single-day attack in more than one year directly targeting Ukraine’s vital power and water infrastructure, with potentially devastating effects for the country’s civilian population.”
Angels of Salvation CSO/Mariia Ostashko
Angels of Salvation, a non-governmental organization (NGO), reaches out to those affected by a attack on Dnipro.
Nuclear and water facilities impacted
Ukraine’s largest dam, located in the city of Zaporizhzhia was damaged, but stable, according to UN agencies.
Nearby, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lost electricity to its last remaining main power line for about five hours today, according to the International Agency for Atomic Energy (IAEA), which issued a statement on Friday morning including a time line of the incident.
“The world’s attention is rightly focused on the continued danger of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant being hit or losing its off-site power,” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said.
The latest attacks starkly highlight ever-present dangers to nuclear safety and security during the conflict, he warned, also noting that the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant also temporarily lost the connection to one of its power lines following the overnight strikes.
Lila Montgomery is a celebrated journalist who has a deep commitment to global affairs and humanitarian issues. Her extensive reporting on United Nations initiatives across the globe has brought critical stories to the forefront, stories that affect communities everywhere.
I am deeply saddened by the atrocities committed against civilians in Ukraine. It is crucial that international humanitarian law is upheld and respected to prevent further devastation and loss of innocent lives.
Do you think the international community can take any effective measures to stop these devastating attacks on Ukraine’s power plants?
It’s crucial that the international community unites to prevent further destruction and loss of life. Sanctions and diplomatic efforts must be intensified to deter such flagrant violations of international law.
As an advocate for human rights, it is deeply troubling to see the ongoing destruction and devastation caused by these attacks. The blatant disregard for civilian lives and essential infrastructure is unacceptable and must be condemned by the international community.
As a humanitarian worker myself, I am truly appalled by the deliberate attacks on civilians and essential infrastructure in Ukraine. International humanitarian law must be respected at all times, and these egregious actions must be condemned and stopped immediately. My heart goes out to the millions of Ukrainians left without electricity and water due to these senseless acts of violence.
As a humanitarian worker myself, I am deeply troubled by the Russian bombing of Ukraine power plants. It is crucial that international humanitarian law is respected, and these attacks on civilians and essential infrastructure must cease immediately.
Isn’t it just heartbreaking to see such devastating attacks on civilian infrastructure violating international law? What can be done to prevent such tragedies in the future?
It is truly heartbreaking to witness these horrific attacks on civilian infrastructure, blatantly disregarding international law. Preventing such tragedies in the future requires united global action, stricter enforcement of humanitarian laws, and holding perpetrators accountable.
It is truly disheartening to hear about the devastating attacks on civilians and essential infrastructure in Ukraine. Respect for humanitarian law is crucial, and such violence must cease immediately.
The Russian bombing of Ukraine’s power plants is a blatant violation of international laws and ethics. It’s horrid to see innocent civilians suffering due to such ruthless attacks. The international community must come together to condemn these actions and demand an immediate halt to the violence.
Isn’t it concerning that such targeted attacks on civilian infrastructure are still happening in this day and age?
It is indeed deeply concerning and alarming that such targeted attacks on civilian infrastructure continue to occur in our modern world. The disregard for international humanitarian law is appalling and must be addressed with urgency.
It’s truly heartbreaking to see civilians and essential infrastructure being targeted in such a manner. Humanitarian law must be upheld and respected to prevent further devastation and loss of life.
UN Officials Furious About Russian Bombing of Ukraine Power Plants. This kind of deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure is an egregious violation of international law and must be condemned unequivocally. The humanitarian situation in Ukraine is already dire, and these attacks only exacerbate the suffering of innocent people. Immediate action must be taken to protect civilians and restore essential services.