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	End the War in Ukraine by UN News, agencies   8 Oct. 2026   Nearly 50 civilians reportedly killed in latest wave of attacks. (OCHA)   The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that deadly attacks continue to take a devastating toll on civilians in Ukraine – damaging homes, public transport and energy infrastructure across the country.   In just over a day – between yesterday and this morning – nearly 50 civilians were killed, including six children, and 170 others injured, according to the authorities. The cities of Pryluky in Chernihiv, Kremenchuk in Poltava, and Kyiv were among the hardest-hit locations.   In the Donetsk region, the city of Kramatorsk also came under heavy attack this morning, with strikes hitting public buses. At least 12 people were killed and a dozen more injured.   The Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, denounced this latest wave of attacks, stressing that the increasing harm to civilians must end.   Humanitarian partners – including with the support of UN agencies – provided aid, shelter support, cash, food and hygiene supplies.   7 Oct. 2026   Over 150 civilian casualties reported in 24 hours   OCHA reports that attacks and front-line hostilities in Ukraine over the past 24 hours have caused more than 150 civilian casualties. Homes, a hospital and other civilian infrastructure were also damaged across the country.   Several urban centres were affected, including the town of Pryluky in the Chernihiv region, where an overnight missile attack destroyed a residential building and damaged several others. According to local authorities, at least 14 people, including four children, were killed and 50 others injured.   Yesterday, in the city of Kryvyi Rih, in the Dnipro region, a strike on a hospital injured several people, including two health workers.   The attacks also targeted energy infrastructure, disrupting electricity supplies nationwide and leaving parts of the country without power. For the first time since last winter, the national grid operator imposed scheduled power outages for several hours in parts of Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv.   http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/10/comment-un-human-rights-chief-volker-turk-deadly-strikes-ukraine http://www.hrw.org/news/2026/10/08/airstrike-damages-hospital-in-central-ukraine http://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing-notes/attacks-intensify-unhcr-urges-support-war-ravaged-ukrainians   28 Sep. 2026   Deadly attacks damage homes, civilian infrastructure   The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that attacks in Ukraine over the past three days have continued to kill and injure civilians, including children, and damaged homes and civilian infrastructure.   The capital Kyiv and the regions of Sumy, Kharkiv and Odesa were the most affected. In the last three days, nearly 40 civilians were killed and more than 250 others injured across the country, according to preliminary reports from local authorities. Attacks damaged residential buildings, health and education facilities, energy infrastructure, shops, offices and other civilian premises.   Attacks also affected civilians in the regions of Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Kyiv, Dnipro, Kherson and Chernihiv.   Sep. 2026   Statement by Erik Mose, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, at the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council:   "I am presenting this oral update on the progress of the investigations of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine during its fifth mandate from 31 March 2026.   Four and a half years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, the armed conflict continues with devastating consequences. Over 17,000 civilians have been killed and almost 54,000 injured in Ukraine during this period, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.   Between January and September 2026, the escalation of attacks by the Russian Federation using long-range weapons in populated areas has led to a 55 per cent increase in civilian casualties compared to the same period in 2025.   A growing number of attacks by Ukrainian armed forces on Russian territory and occupied areas has led to a reported increase of civilian casualties and damage or destruction of civilian objects, according to Russian sources. However, lack of access has hindered investigation of these incidents.   Civilian casualties from attacks by short-range drones near the frontline have also risen. Russian media channels continue to post videos and texts that show the intentional targeting of civilians by drones and even brag about it.   The Commission recalls that in its reports from 2025, it concluded that Russian armed forces’ systematic attacks using short-range drones along the right bank of the Dnipro River amounted to crimes against humanity and were committed with the purpose of spreading terror among the civilian population, in violation of international humanitarian law.   Further, with winter approaching, the Commission is worried about the adverse impact on living conditions of civilians due to the extensive damage or destruction of Ukraine’s energy-related installations caused by the systematic waves of attacks by the Russian armed forces since October 2022.   Being independent and impartial, the Commission continues its efforts to investigate incidents and violations on both sides of the frontline.   During this mandate, the Commission has so far focused on the impact on civilians of large-scale attacks targeting energy infrastructure; the patriotic and military education imposed on children; and the recruitment of foreigners to fight in the armed conflict.   We extend our gratitude to all who have shared valuable information with us, including the Government of Ukraine, organisations, and persons affected by the armed conflict.   The Commission regrets that the Russian Federation did not respond to 41 communications addressed to it since 2022 with detailed questions concerning its investigations.   During the harsh winter of 2025-2026, as temperatures plunged to minus 20 degrees Celsius, the Russian armed forces continued to launch waves of attacks targeting Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure.   More power installations, transmission lines, heat supply facilities, and gas facilities have been damaged or destroyed. Millions of civilians suffered due to drastic electricity cuts, shortages or total absence of heating for weeks.   In interviews with the Commission, civilians described how the temperatures in their apartments dropped to levels where many developed health problems, including psychological conditions. The Ukrainian authorities documented cold-related deaths and injuries. Those who had the possibility, relocated during the coldest months.   The Commission has also followed reports concerning attacks by Ukrainian armed forces on infrastructure in the Russian Federation and in Russian controlled areas of Ukraine..   UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk:   The war in Ukraine is a human rights catastrophe that is growing and intensifying by the week, causing unfathomable pain to civilians, and threatening an even greater disaster across the entire region. We need urgent action to end it, in line with the UN Charter and international law.   The full-scale invasion unleashed by the Russian Federation is killing and injuring hundreds of people every week, as frontlines barely move. Apartment buildings, schools, medical centres, railways, seaports, gas stations, shops and logistics and telecommunications companies have been hit in recent attacks.   The Russian Federation, as the aggressor, is inflicting immense suffering on Ukrainians. The Russian leadership should also consider what this war is doing to their own society, which is sinking deeper into fear, denial, and a militarized economy that puts death and destruction ahead of healthcare and education. I’m shocked by the lack of empathy on display.   Continuous escalation is creating a vortex of vengeance and reprisals that will have terrible consequences for people and communities for decades to come.   Across Ukraine, people are living in constant dread. Air raid alerts in Kyiv were active for 33 hours during one 48-hour period earlier this week, as missiles and drones rained down on the city.   During the first eight months of this year, we verified some 15,280 civilians killed and injured – on average, more than 400 every week, for 34 weeks. This is 55 per cent more than during the same period in 2025.   The number of civilian casualties in the Russian Federation has reportedly also increased. During the night of 19-20 September, the Russian authorities reported that 3 people were killed and 41 injured in a major missile and drone attack in the Moscow region. My Office is unable to verify these reports fully; the authorities have not granted us access.   Short-range drones kill and injure civilians, prevent the delivery of humanitarian aid, and restrict freedom of movement. Long-range drones are constantly expanding their reach and the threat they pose to civilians. Ukraine is a laboratory for drone warfare. We need urgent steps at the international level to deal with the carnage wrought by these weapons systems around the world.   The situation near the frontlines is a particular concern. Civilian casualties are at very high levels, caused by drone attacks, aerial bombardment, shelling, and systems that launch multiple rockets, devastating an entire area.   Attacks on energy infrastructure and commercial property have increased sharply, in clear disregard of international humanitarian law. Russian attacks on supermarkets and food companies are already creating temporary shortages of vegetables and dairy products in some areas. Damage to power plants causes outages that affect water pumping stations.   Russian forces have repeatedly attacked transportation infrastructure, including railways, ports, border crossings and gas stations across Ukraine. As winter approaches, Ukrainians fear the worst is yet to come.   Inside the Russian Federation, Ukrainian forces have reportedly struck warehouses and logistics centres belonging to major e-commerce companies, along with oil refineries.   I am alarmed by human rights violations linked to the presence of fighters from third countries in this war. My staff have interviewed prisoners of war from 36 countries who are held by Ukraine; many said they were deceived into joining the Russian forces.   The conduct of this war to date cannot be allowed to dictate its future. We need a decisive shift towards de-escalation and peace. Rebuilding momentum towards negotiations is key. This calls for confidence-building measures, based on human rights, that could reduce the impact of hostilities on civilians.   Such measures could include an agreement to end attacks on economic targets and energy infrastructure; local ceasefires on the frontlines; enabling civilians to leave Oleshky; and a full exchange of prisoners of war, respecting the principle of non-refoulement.   These steps can be a basis for renewed efforts towards peace, grounded in human rights and in line with the UN Charter, international law, and General Assembly resolutions.   We stand in solidarity with the civilians who are bearing the brunt of this war. To Russians, I say: This war is serving no one. Its continuation will only lead to more shattered families and greater misery for ordinary people.   To the international community, and particularly States with influence, I say: please take urgent action to push for a negotiated peace now, before this tragedy becomes even worse.   http://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2026/09/statement-erik-mose-chair-independent-international-commission?sub-site=HRC http://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2026/10/hc-turk-ukraine-alongside-peace-there-must-be-accountability http://news.un.org/en/story/2026/10/1168513 http://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1j/k1jb1vr649 http://www.unocha.org/latest/news-and-stories?responses=13 http://www.savethechildren.net/news/behind-every-alert-real-fear-children-ukraine-air-raid-alarms-surge-over-quarter-three-months   July 2026   Weekend attacks kill dozens and damage hospitals, schools and ports. (OCHA)   The United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that intense drone, missile and glide bomb attacks over the weekend in Ukraine killed and injured civilians, while damaging hospitals, schools, energy and port infrastructure. Authorities report that at least 32 civilians were killed and 260 injured, including children.   The regions of Donetsk, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia were among the hardest hit. In the cities of Sumy and Zaporizhzhia, glide bomb attacks caused many civilian casualties and widespread damage to homes, public transport and other civilian infrastructure, underscoring the growing humanitarian impact of these weapons in front-line urban areas.   The regions of Chernihiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kyiv and Odesa were also impacted. In Odesa, attacks damaged a hospital and port infrastructure. The World Food Programme warns that continued strikes on Black Sea ports could disrupt Ukraine's grain exports and threaten global food security.   Humanitarian organizations responded in the Sumy, Kyiv and Odesa regions, providing emergency shelter materials, hot meals, legal assistance, protection services, social support and emergency repairs to affected families. Despite continued insecurity, the UN and its partners continue delivering life-saving assistance to front-line communities.   http://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/ukraine-humanitarian-needs-and-response-review-mid-year-2026-enuk http://www.unocha.org/news/todays-top-news-el-nino-venezuela-occupied-palestinian-territory-ukraine http://www.unocha.org/news/technology-outpacing-accountability-ukraine-un-relief-chief-tells-security-council http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/09/un-commission-concerned-about-human-impact-russias-systematic-targeting http://unocha.exposure.co/the-sky-over-kherson http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/children-killed-and-injured-latest-attacks-across-ukraine-monthly-child-casualties http://www.unocha.org/news/acting-deputy-un-relief-chief-tells-security-council-civilians-ukraine-cannot-wait-needs-grow http://ukraine.ohchr.org/en/reports/protection-of-civilians http://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/iicihr-ukraine/index   May 2026   3000 attacks on health care in Ukraine verified by WHO since full-scale invasion   During 1534 days of war, Ukraine’s health-care system has experienced repeated attacks. The World Health Organization (WHO) has verified more than 3000 attacks on health care over this period through its Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care, applying global verification standards and systematically monitoring, verifying and reporting incidents.   The scale and frequency of these incidents place patients and health workers at constant risk and undermine the delivery of life-saving services. Under international humanitarian law, the wounded and sick, medical personnel, health-care facilities and transport must be respected and protected. Member States must also take feasible precautions to protect civilians and civilian objects, including health-care services, and to facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, subject to applicable controls.   From primary health care centres to maternity hospitals, and from ambulance teams to pharmaceutical warehouses, every component of the system has been affected. Health-care facilities have been most impacted: around 80% of verified attacks on health care have affected outpatient clinics, hospitals and other care settings. Beyond the immediate casualties, such attacks disrupt service delivery, damage critical infrastructure and erode the health system’s capacity over time.   “Every one of these attacks is a violation of international humanitarian law, and every one represents a patient who couldn’t be reached, a health worker in danger, a community left without care,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “This cannot be normalized. Under international humanitarian law, health care is protected. That is not a guideline or a recommendation. It is a binding obligation on all parties to any conflict. WHO will continue to document every attack on health and advocate for the protection of health workers in Ukraine.”   Health-care transport remains among the most vulnerable elements of the system in terms of human impact. Approximately 20% of recorded attacks on health care have been on ambulances and other health vehicles, with nearly 1 in 3 of these incidents resulting in casualties – making medical transport one of the highest-risk areas for injury and loss of life.   “Since the beginning of this year alone, 186 attacks on health care verified by WHO with numbers continuing to rise. Compared to the same period in 2025, the number of deaths has increased nearly fourfold, while injuries have almost doubled.   These patterns not only place health workers at heightened risk, but also further disrupt the continuity of care for those who depend on it most,” said Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine.   “The WHO Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care monitors and verifies the impact of attacks on health care to inform system-wide advocacy for compliance with international humanitarian law and the protection of health care, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2286 (2016) and World Health Assembly Resolution 65.20 (2012), which condemn attacks on health workers and facilities and call for measures to prevent violence and ensure accountability,” added Dr Habicht.   The continued damage to health infrastructure has significantly constrained the ability of medical personnel to deliver essential care, requiring constant adaptation of humanitarian health operations.   This is unfolding amid escalating needs: according to the United Nations, 12.7 million people in Ukraine require humanitarian assistance, including 9.2 million in need of health support. Civilian casualties have increased by an estimated 31% compared with the previous year, 2025.   “According to the latest estimates, the needs for rebuilding the health-care sector over the next 10 years already amount to US$ 23.6 billion".   In close coordination with the Ministry of Health, local authorities and partners, WHO continues to adapt support to the evolving situation, helping facilities stay functional, protecting health workers where possible and reinforcing the resilience of the health system.   http://www.who.int/europe/news/item/08-05-2026-3000-attacks-on-health-care-in-ukraine-verified-by-who-since-full-scale-invasion http://www.unocha.org/news/acting-deputy-un-relief-chief-tells-security-council-civilians-ukraine-cannot-wait-needs-grow http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-deputy-executive-director-ted-chaiban-united-nations-security-council http://www.unocha.org/news/acting-deputy-relief-chief-urges-security-council-not-let-civilian-suffering-ukraine-become http://www.icrc.org/en/statement/ukraine-intensifying-hostilities-claim-dozens-lives-deepen-trauma-civilians http://news.un.org/en/story/2026/06/1167622 http://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing-notes/unhcr-appalled-attacks-aid-operations-and-rising-civilian-toll-ukraine http://news.un.org/en/story/2026/05/1167599 http://www.ungeneva.org/en/news-media/news/2026/05/118377/more-70-civilians-killed-ukraine-less-week http://ukraine.un.org/en/316191-un-wfp-warehouse-dnipro-damaged-strike http://www.icrc.org/en/article/health-care-under-fire-ten-years-after-resolution-2286   10 Mar. 2026   More deadly strikes kill civilians. (OCHA)   OCHA reports that large-scale missile and drone attacks and front-line hostilities between the early hours of last Thursday and yesterday affected multiple regions across Ukraine.   Authorities reported nearly 30 civilians killed and about 170 injured, including children.   Kharkiv City was among the hardest hit, where strikes damaged apartment blocks, a school and other civilian site, killing 10 people, including two children, and injuring 26. Elsewhere in the Kharkiv Region, three more civilians were killed and 14 injured. In the Donetsk Region, authorities reported three civilians killed and 20 injured in Ukraine-controlled areas, most in Kramatorsk, including three children.   Attacks damaged ambulances, fire trucks, homes and energy and railway infrastructure in several regions. The Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, reiterated that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected under international humanitarian law.   http://www.unocha.org/news/security-council-un-relief-chief-warns-civilian-casualties-ukraine-amid-waves-drone-strikes http://news.un.org/en/story/2026/04/1167313 http://news.un.org/en/story/2026/03/1167201 http://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2026/03/deputy-high-commissioner-human-rights-al-nashif-updates-council http://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/statement-security-council-humanitarian-situation-ukraine-joyce-msuya-asg-humanitarian-affairs-and-deputy-erc-behalf-tom-fletcher-usg-humanitarian-affairs-and-erc   * Drones are being increasingly used as weapons of war in a number of ongoing conflicts. (IPS News)   UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said last week he was “appalled by the devastating impact on civilians of increasing drone attacks”, amid reports that more than 200 civilians have been killed by drones since 4 March alone in the Kordofan region, and in White Nile state in Sudan.   “It is deeply troubling that despite multiple reminders, warnings and appeals, parties to the conflict in Sudan continue to use increasingly powerful drones to deploy explosive weapons with wide-area impacts in populated areas,” said Turk. “I renew my call on them to abide fully with international humanitarian law in their use of these weapons, particularly the clear prohibition on directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects and infrastructure, and against any form of indiscriminate attacks.”   http://www.ipsnews.net/2026/03/a-remotely-piloted-weapon-that-targets-civilians-in-war-zones/   24 Feb. 2026 (UN News)   The international community must “use every diplomatic tool” to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, a senior UN official told the UN Security Council as Russia’s full-scale invasion entered a fifth year.   Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, delivered remarks on behalf of the UN Secretary-General:   "Four years after the Russian Federation launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war remains a stain on our collective conscience. Day after day – year after year – we have witnessed the cascading consequences of this blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter.   Shattered lives. Devastated communities. And deepened regional and global instability. The human toll is catastrophic. Last year was the deadliest for Ukrainian civilians since 2022. More than 15,000 civilians have been killed in Ukraine since the start of the invasion, and more than 41,000 injured. Millions have been forced to flee from their homes. Millions more require life-saving assistance.   Human rights violations are rampant. The plight of Ukrainian children is particularly dire. More than 3,200 children have been killed or injured. More than one-third of Ukrainian children remain displaced and an estimated 2.2 million require humanitarian assistance. A whole generation has lost years of education as schools have come under fire.   This winter, the Russian Federation intensified strikes against Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure. Large-scale attacks have killed and injured scores of civilians, and deprived millions of electricity, heating, and water for prolonged periods – including in the capital, Kyiv. In sub-zero temperatures, strikes on electricity, heating and water systems turn access to basic services into a matter of life and death.   Civilians in the Russian Federation are also increasingly affected by reported Ukrainian strikes.   International humanitarian law is unequivocal: attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are strictly prohibited. I condemn all such attacks, no matter where they occur. I urge both sides to implement an immediate moratorium on all such attacks.   The ongoing fighting also poses direct risks to the safe and secure operations of Ukraine’s nuclear sites. This unconscionable game of nuclear roulette must cease immediately.   Even as the fighting rages, the UN is working with Ukraine agencies to repair damaged infrastructure, keep people warm, and sustain critical services. Despite limited access and the deteriorating security situation, we are also working with local partners to deliver food, water, medical supplies and other humanitarian aid, including to those in front-line communities. I urge Member States to fully fund the humanitarian response.   Throughout the war, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has reported widespread human rights violations – torture, sexual violence, and even executions of prisoners of war and civilian detainees. These acts have gone with virtually no accountability. I urge that all prisoners of war and detainees be treated humanely and released in accordance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law.   Any Ukrainian children deported or forcibly transferred to the Russian Federation and occupied areas of Ukraine must be returned home to their families without delay. I urge the sides to continue to work constructively to address these concerns as a matter of priority.   A year ago, this Council adopted resolution 2774 imploring “a swift end to the conflict” and urging “a lasting peace between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.   We need concrete measures to de-escalate the fighting without delay and to create the space for diplomacy. The longer this war continues, the greater the suffering – and the greater the risks for regional and international peace and security. As complex as the path may be, our collective obligation is clear: use every diplomatic tool to end this war.   The parameters of peace in Ukraine are not a mystery. It must be in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions. And it must uphold the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders.   Enough with the death. Enough with the destruction. Enough with the broken lives and shattered futures. It is time for an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire – the first step toward a just peace that saves lives and ends the endless suffering".   Feb. 2026   ‘Nothing Compares to Human Lives Lost’ – Reflections on Ukraine War. (IPS News)   “We have a saying here in Ukraine now – ‘young people meet at their friends’ funerals rather than at weddings.’ It’s sad, but very true.”   As Russia’s full-scale invasion of her country moves into its fifth year, Iryna Yakova, 29, is looking back at how her life has changed over the past four years.   Speaking from Lviv, the western Ukrainian city where she lives, she tells IPS that her “values and attitude towards life” have changed. “Material things become unimportant when your loved ones or friends are in danger,” she says. She has also developed a keen sense of her national identity and an empathy for the suffering of her fellow Ukrainians.   “During the full-scale invasion, I realised that all of Ukraine is my home. I cry for people who were killed by a missile in Kyiv while they were sleeping at night. Even though I didn’t know them, it hurts me because they are Ukrainians. It also pains me to see children growing up without their parents because their parents are at the front. The war has intensified my sense of empathy and belonging.”   “What I miss most [from my life before the full-scale invasion] are the people who have been killed in the war. I have lost friends, acquaintances, and relatives. Nothing compares to human loss. The hardest thing I have had to deal with during this war is going to the funerals of friends — people you used to go to parties with, travel with, study with,” she says.   The human cost of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been enormous – Ukraine’s government does not officially give figures for military casualties, but it has been estimated they could be up to 600,000 (Russian military casualties are thought to be more than twice that amount).   But the scale of civilian casualties has been huge, too. According to UN bodies, more than 15,000 civilians have been killed and over 41,000 injured in Ukraine since the start of the invasion on February 24, 2022.   Worryingly, as Ukraine marks the fourth anniversary of the start of the war, research suggests there has been a sharp increase in civilian casualties over the last year.   Data from Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), released earlier this month, showed civilian casualties in Ukraine increased by 26 percent in 2025 compared with 2024.   The group said its data showed a worrying shift in the character of the conflict – the average number of civilians killed or injured per incident in Ukraine rose 33 percent over the year, with a total of 2,248 civilians reported killed (an 11 percent rise) and 12,493 injured (a 28 percent rise) by explosive violence.   This suggests that explosive weapons are being used by Russia in Ukraine in ways that generate greater civilian impact, whether through more drone strikes, heavier munitions, specific targeting choices of populated areas, or repeated strikes on urban infrastructure, the group said.   Nearly seven in ten civilian casualties recorded in AOAV data occurred in residential neighbourhoods, up from just over four in ten in 2024.   Niamh Gillen, a researcher at AOAV, told the IPS news agency it was impossible to definitively say that Russian forces were deliberately targeting Ukrainian civilians, but that “the data speaks for itself.”   “It shows that civilian areas are being attacked, that the attacks are occurring within civilian areas like hospitals, schools, cities, towns. In general, in areas where civilians are heavily concentrated, like cities and towns, villages, anywhere like that, if you’re using an explosive weapon with wide area impacts, then you’re likely to harm more civilians,” she said.   On top of the deaths and destruction Russian attacks have caused, they have also led to massive displacement. It is thought that at least 3.4 million people are internally displaced in the country. This has put massive pressure not just on the displaced themselves, but also on host communities and services.   People’s physical health has deteriorated in such conditions – the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that more than two-thirds of the population have reported a worsening of their health since the start of the invasion.   The situation for many Ukrainians has acutely worsened this winter. In what has been one of the coldest winters the country has seen for many years, Russian forces have repeatedly attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, resulting in massive, widespread power outages. Thermal heating facilities have also been destroyed in targeted attacks.   As temperatures have plunged to as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius on some occasions, millions of people have been left freezing in their homes.   Jamie Wah, Deputy Head of Delegation with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Ukraine, said people were suffering desperately in the cold. “Some nights have been unbearable. There is no escape from the cold” she told IPS.   Humanitarian organisations, including the Ukrainian Red Cross, and state emergency services have set up emergency heating points in cities and towns where people can keep warm, recharge devices and get food. But Wah said while this has become a humanitarian crisis, it is one of just many crises Ukrainians are battling.   Amid these problems, many Ukrainians admit that they are exhausted after four years of war. But among the many people IPS spoke to on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the war, there was a widespread determination to not give up.   For many, such resilience is born out of a desire not just for them and their country to survive what they see as Russia’s attempt to destroy them as an independent state and nation, but also a hope that, ultimately, there will be a future without war.   * Reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine when the war ends is estimated to cost $588 billion over the next decade, according the World Bank, with housing, transport, energy and agriculture among the sectors worst hit.   http://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statements/2026-02-24/secretary-generals-remarks-the-security-council-ukraine-delivered http://www.ifrc.org/press-release/conflict-enters-fifth-year-humanitarian-needs-ukraine-intensify-amid-deepening-energy http://www.icrc.org/en/news-release/icrc-director-general-millions-ukraine-face-intolerable-suffering http://www.unhcr.org/news/press-releases/after-four-years-destruction-and-coldest-winter-yet-unhcr-s-salih-urges-support http://data.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/121256 http://www.nrc.no/news/2026/ukraine-four-years-of-war-leaves-displaced-on-the-brink http://www.caritas.org/ukraine/emergency/four-years-of-war-in-ukraine-4-million-people-have-no-home/   http://www.who.int/news/item/23-02-2026-attacks-on-ukraine-s-health-care-increased-by-20-in-2025 http://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/ukraine-normalization-civilian-harm-unacceptable http://www.ipsnews.net/2026/02/ukrainian-war-anniversary-nothing-compares-to-human-lives-lost/ http://aoav.org.uk/2026/ukraines-war-grows-deadlier-for-civilians-harm-per-strike-up-33-despite-global-decline-in-explosive-violence/ http://www.nrc.no/news/2026/ukraine-families-in-the-firing-line http://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/02/ukraine-russia-four-years-full-scale-invasion/ http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/more-third-ukraines-children-remain-displaced-four-years-war-unicef http://www.savethechildren.net/news/ukraine-children-anxious-fearful-after-4000-hours-air-raid-alarms-four-years-war http://news.un.org/en/story/2026/02/1167016 http://news.un.org/en/focus/ukraine Visit the related web page
	UN voices grave concern as fighting spreads across northern Ethiopia by UN News, OHCHR, OCHA, HRW, agencies   25 Sep. 2026   The UN said on Friday it remains gravely concerned by the continued deterioration of the security situation across northern Ethiopia, as fighting spreads across multiple fronts and increasingly disrupts humanitarian operations.   UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the UN was “particularly troubled by incidents of harm to civilians,” and urged all parties to “exercise maximum restraint and address their differences through dialogue.”   He said the UN is trying to de-escalate the growing crisis – which threatens to return the country to the state of full-scale war in the north which erupted in Tigray in 2020. The conflict led to over 600,000 casualties and widespread civilian suffering and human rights abuses.   According to reports, internet and call services have been cut across the Tigray region. Many rely on banking and mobile transactions due to lack of access to cash and bank ATMs.   The 2020–2022 Tigray war began after political tensions between Ethiopia's federal government and the region's former ruling party, the TPLF, erupted into fighting between Government troops and Tigrayan militia in November 2020.   The conflict spread into neighbouring regions, with the UN documenting widespread atrocities and warning of famine-like conditions before it ended two years later.   The UN welcomed the peace deal of November 2022 under African Union mediation, though it has continued to highlight slow progress on implementation as a risk to the peace now under threat from this week's escalation.   The UN aid coordination office (OCHA) said the escalation risks adding to already overwhelming humanitarian needs, including among civilians displaced by previous fighting in Tigray, an area experiencing below-average rainfall linked to the El Nino weather pattern – which promises to exacerbate already extreme weather conditions.   OCHA called on all parties to ensure safe and unhindered access for humanitarian partners to reach those in need. Humanitarian workers must be protected at all times.   The UN and humanitarian partners are continuing operations where security allows, in Tigray as well as the northern regions of Amhara and Afar but limited funding constrains operations.   Insecurity is already taking its toll, on Sunday a drone strike in northwestern Tigray hit a truck carrying food assistance for internally displaced people. Road closures have displaced planned humanitarian movements, while operations in parts of Amhara face significant constraints, including the seizure of humanitarian vehicles by armed groups.   The UN stressed that all parties must ensure safe and unhindered access for humanitarian partners to reach those in need, wherever they are.   UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said he was deeply alarmed by the escalation of fighting and urged all parties to de-escalate tensions and avoid a return to full-scale war. He said airstrikes hit five schools in Tigray on 22 September, and a mortar strike two days later killed civilians in Kobo, Amhara.   “I am deeply alarmed by the recent escalation in hostilities between Ethiopian Government forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and its allies, and the harmful impacts it is already having on civilians. All parties must urgently de-escalate tensions and avoid a return to full-scale war,” said Turk.   He called on all parties to take all measures needed to ensure effective protection of civilians from harm, and to allow safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all who need it.   The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urged States with influence on the parties to take concerted steps to help bring about a cessation of hostilities.   22 Sep. 2026   Renewed Tigray Fighting Shows Need to Protect Civilians. (HRW)   Fighting in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray, Amhara, and Afar regions erupted on September 22, 2026, between the Ethiopian military and forces aligned with the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front, Tigray’s main political party. This follows reported clashes and airstrikes in Tigray since August, including in Tigray’s regional capital, Mekelle.   Laetitia Bader, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch:   “The new hostilities in northern Ethiopia raise fears that civilians will face further abuses given the warring parties’ past atrocities and ongoing impunity. The parties need to take all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. International actors should act immediately to help protect civilians and support robust monitoring of the parties’ conduct.”   http://www.unocha.org/news/todays-top-news-ethiopia-democratic-republic-congo-yemen-occupied-palestinian-territory-haiti http://news.un.org/en/story/2026/09/1168450 http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/09/ethiopia-turk-alarmed-civilian-impact-hostilities-urges-de-escalation http://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/analysis/2026/10/08/tigray-faces-double-catastrophe-war-and-worsening-hunger http://www.hrw.org/news/2026/09/25/ethiopia-indiscriminate-airstrike-in-tigray http://www.hrw.org/news/2026/09/09/rising-tigray-tensions-test-african-union http://www.crisisgroup.org/stm/africa/ethiopia-eritrea/arresting-dangerous-descent-back-war-northern-ethiopia http://omnatigray.org/joint-statement-urgent-call-to-stop-the-renewed-war-on-tigray/ http://www.refugeesinternational.org/statements-and-news/ethiopian-tigrayan-forces-must-pull-back-from-the-brink/ http://www.refugeesinternational.org/statements-and-news/u-s-cutoff-of-vital-aid-to-ethiopia-risks-hunger-and-instability/ http://www.globalr2p.org/publications/ethiopia-the-human-rights-council-should-convene-a-special-session-to-address-the-quickly-deteriorating-human-rights-situation-and-prevent-further-atrocity-crimes/ http://www.crisisgroup.org/alr/africa/ethiopia-eritrea/pulling-ethiopia-and-eritrea-back-war http://acleddata.com/country/conflict-ethiopia
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