Translated with AI
Last night and Friday morning, Kyiv, as well as the Kyiv and Lviv regions of Ukraine, suffered another major attack using missiles and drones, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in the country.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the Russian Federation's ongoing targeted missile and drone strikes against critical civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, according to a statement released by his press secretary.
As noted in the document, the attacks resulted in significant civilian casualties and deprived millions of Ukrainians of vital services – electricity, heating, and water supply – at a time of acute humanitarian need.
The UN reiterated that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law. "Wherever they occur, such attacks are unacceptable, unjustifiable, and must cease immediately," the statement emphasized.
According to preliminary reports, the strikes damaged energy infrastructure, causing emergency power outages for hundreds of thousands of people amid expected drops in temperatures. UN teams continue to verify incoming information and assess the impact of the attacks.
Large-scale destruction
Elisabeth Haslund, spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), described the situation in Kyiv in an interview with the UN News Service: "Last night and into the early hours of this morning, we witnessed a massive, large-scale Russian attack. Again, hundreds of drones, several missiles, and air raid sirens and explosions that continued for hours. Today, we are seeing widespread destruction in the capital."
© Elisabeth Arnsdorf Haslund
According to her, several people were killed and many more were injured. Residential buildings and civilian infrastructure were also damaged, leaving thousands of people in Kyiv without electricity, heat, and water.
"It's minus eight degrees Celsius outside, and with heavy snowfall and wind, the cold feels even worse. This, of course, makes the situation even more difficult for the most vulnerable people in Kyiv," Haslund added.
Escalation of attacks across the country
She emphasized that this week, massive airstrikes were also carried out on Kharkiv, Dnipro, and the Kherson region.
"This underscores the continuation of the trend of escalating Russian attacks on Ukraine that we've been observing for several months now. It's clear this trend will continue into 2026," the UNHCR official noted.
According to her, the humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly critical.
Emergency assistance on site
UNHCR and partners are continuing urgent humanitarian support efforts for those affected, including psychological support and various forms of counseling. Field teams are distributing emergency repair materials to help local residents repair broken windows, doors, and roofs and remain in their homes, protected from the harsh weather. Those who have lost their documents or require compensation can access legal support.
