UN Briefing: Escalating Attacks in Ukraine & Diplomatic Progress

Intensified Aerial Attacks and Civilian Casualties

• 💥 Russian aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities and towns have intensified, leading to a significant rise in civilian casualties.
• 🏙️ A single attack on June 16-17 in Kyiv hit seven districts, killing at least 28 civilians and injuring over 130, with many still missing under rubble.
• 🌍 Multiple cities including Odessa, Zaporizhzhia, and Chernihiv were also attacked, with reports of civilian deaths and injuries.
• 📈 The first five months of 2025 saw a 47% increase in civilian casualties compared to the same period in 2024, due to the intensified use of long-range weapons.

Border Region Incidents

• ⚠️ Escalating violence impacting civilians is also reported in bordering regions of the Russian Federation.
• 🇷🇺 On June 17, a woman in Russia's Kursk region died after being injured in a Ukrainian drone attack.
• 🇷🇺 Another incident on June 9 in the Kursk region reportedly killed a man and injured five others in a Ukrainian strike.
• 🔍 The United Nations is not able to verify these reports of incidents in Russian border regions.

Condemnation and International Law

• ⚖️ Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure are strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law.
• 🚫 The UN unequivocally condemns all such attacks and calls for them to cease immediately.

Diplomatic Efforts and Peace Prospects

• 🤝 Important diplomatic developments have occurred, including a second face-to-face meeting between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul on June 2.
• 📝 Delegations reportedly exchanged memoranda outlining their visions for a ceasefire and parameters for a peace settlement.
• 🕊️ An agreement was reached for large-scale exchanges of prisoners of war, mortal remains, and civilian detainees, which have been carried out in phases.
• 🫂 These exchanges provide answers to families and reunite loved ones, allowing those subjected to dire conditions in captivity to return to safety.

Call for Lasting Peace

• 🌍 The UN welcomes the continuation of all meaningful diplomatic efforts and urges sides to make tangible progress towards a ceasefire and lasting settlement.
• 🇺🇳 The United Nations supports a just and lasting peace in line with the UN Charter, international law, and Ukraine's sovereignty.
• 🚨 The Secretary-General has called for a complete, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire as an important first step.
• 🌐 The UN stands ready to support all meaningful efforts to sustain and make irreversible the fragile diplomatic process.