Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The United Nations has expressed concern over a dangerous escalation in the war in Ukraine following a series of large-scale Russian attacks. Secretary-General António Guterres cautioned the Security Council that the situation risks spiralling "out of control" and stressed the need for immediate and sustained de-escalation, along with a full and unconditional ceasefire. He described the current trajectory of the conflict as "not sustainable" and emphasized the risks of miscalculation and unintended consequences.
During recent attacks on 23 and 24 May, Russia reportedly launched about 90 long-range missiles and 600 drones. These strikes resulted in at least five civilian deaths and over 100 injuries, with significant damage reported in Kyiv. Diplomatic premises and a compound housing UN agencies also experienced falling debris, though no UN personnel were harmed.
According to the UN human rights office (OHCHR), civilian casualties in Ukraine during the first four months of 2026 have exceeded those recorded in the same period in 2025. Verified figures indicate 815 civilians killed and 4,174 injured between January and April. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, over 15,000 civilians, including nearly 800 children, have been verified killed by the UN.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged both sides to exercise restraint and return to negotiations to end the suffering. He referenced recent attacks causing substantial civilian casualties, including a Russian strike on a residential building in Kyiv earlier in May that reportedly killed 24 civilians, as well as a Ukrainian strike on an educational complex in the Russian-occupied city of Starobilsk, where Russian authorities reported 21 deaths and 44 injuries. The OHCHR noted that civilians, including students, were among those affected.