PRESS RELEASE : The devastating humanitarian impact of Russia’s systematic strikes on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure – UK statement at the Security Council [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 December 2022.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council briefing on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

Thank you President. And thank you Under-Secretary-General Griffiths for your briefing.

“Death, destruction, displacement and suffering,” as you said.

President, this is the third time in as many weeks that we have discussed Russia’s brutal attacks on civilians across Ukraine.

On all three occasions, the UN has underlined the devastating humanitarian impact of the systematic strikes on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and civilian centres. This presents a potentially catastrophic situation for Ukraine’s brave and courageous people and for the 690 organisations that are supporting the humanitarian need as winter begins, and people are left without water, power and shelter.

We know what Russia is trying to do: it is trying to bring terror and suffering to the civilian population in a war of subjugation. It is barbaric, illegal, and horribly cruel.

The statistics we have heard from the UN today are shocking, more than 17,000 civilians have been killed in Ukraine by Russia’s senseless war. It is a devastating number of innocent lives lost, and we’ve heard today in particular the impact  Russia’s war is having on children in Ukraine:

• the millions forced to flee their homes and in need of humanitarian assistance,
• the hundreds killed, injured or missing.
• the damage or destruction of over 500 schools, and classes interrupted by air raid sirens and power cuts.
• the reports that thousands of children have been forcibly taken to Russia.
• And the credible allegations of sexual violence against children by Russian forces.

The trauma inflicted by Russia will last for generations.

President, the response from this Council, and the wider UN Membership, has been consistent: a call for an end to conflict; for peace.

President Zelenskyy again asked us, two weeks ago, to help end the suffering of the Ukrainian people and expressed his willingness to negotiate a peace based on the principles of the UN Charter.

But Russia is not listening.

Its response has been wave after wave of long range strikes, and continued, albeit frustrated, efforts to take Ukrainian territory.

It is time for Russia to end this war, withdraw from Ukrainian territory, and commit to dialogue and negotiations based on international law and the UN Charter.

Thank you, Madam President.