UN Secretary-General: There are no signs of end to russia's war against Ukraine
The war waged by russia against Ukraine shows no signs of stopping, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said during a high-level UN Security Council meeting on Thursday.
This is reported by Ukrinform.
"russia's war with Ukraine shows no signs of stopping. The last seven months have been marked by untold suffering and devastation," he said.
According to the Secretary-General, the possibility of a nuclear conflict, "once unthinkable," has become the subject of discussions.
"This is absolutely unacceptable. All states possessing nuclear weapons must confirm their commitment to the non-use and complete elimination of nuclear weapons," he added.
Guterres expressed his "deep concern" about reports of plans to organize so-called referendums in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. He reminded that any annexation of the state's territory by another state as a result of the threat or use of force is a violation of the UN Charter and international law.
He noted that thousands of Ukrainian civilians, including hundreds of children, died due to the russian bombings.
"Every day, on average, five children are killed or injured. Almost every child in Ukraine has suffered from the horrors of war – from violence to separation from their families," he said.
According to Guterres, about 14 million people, primarily women and children, were forced to flee the war.
"The situation will only worsen with the approach of winter and the reduction of gas and electricity supplies," he noted.
He said UN structures provided aid to almost 13 million people in Ukraine.
He recalled that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Office prepares reports that "constitute a catalog of brutality, summary executions, sexual violence, torture and other inhumane treatment of civilians and prisoners of war."
Guterres called the latest reports about the burial sites in Izyum "extremely disturbing." All of them should "be investigated to ensure accountability," he emphasized.
"Guilty persons should be brought to justice in a fair and independent trial, and victims and their families should have the right to legal remedies and compensation," he said.
The UN Secretary-General reiterated that the fact-finding mission regarding the July 29 Olenivka prison explosion is "ready to deploy" and awaits appropriate guarantees regarding safe access to all relevant sites and evidence "without any restrictions, obstacles or interference."
