On October 9, 2026, Khaled Khiari, UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, addressed the UN Security Council, highlighting a significant escalation in attacks by the Russian Federation on Ukraine since the last briefing on September 23. He cited information from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights indicating that over 100 civilians had been killed and more than 429 injured across Ukraine in just one week.
Notable incidents included a Russian glide bomb attack on October 8 in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, which reportedly killed at least 33 people and injured 18 others while targeting civilian passenger buses. The same day, drone strikes in Kyiv resulted in the deaths of at least six individuals and left 17 others injured.
Khiari detailed that on October 7, Russian forces launched numerous missiles and drones across various regions, resulting in at least 32 confirmed deaths, including five children, and injuring at least 104, many of whom were minors. The deadliest incident occurred in Pryluky, Chernihiv region, where a missile strike hit a residential building, claiming 19 lives, including five children, and injuring 55 others.
According to Khiari, the relentless nature of air strikes has severely disrupted daily life for millions of Ukrainians, with air raid warnings becoming a regular occurrence, at times lasting for hours. For instance, in Kyiv, alerts on September 27 lasted for 19 of 24 hours.
The attacks have also inflicted heavy damage on civilian infrastructure. In early October, key transportation routes were targeted, including bridges over the Dnipro River, a vital artery for the city of Kyiv. Additionally, the Russian Federation intensified attacks on energy infrastructure, impacting power and water supply across several regions, leading to widespread blackouts and raising concerns about the well-being of residents as winter approaches.
While condemning all attacks on civilians, Khiari also expressed concerns over casualties reportedly resulting from Ukrainian armed forces’ actions in the Russian Federation. Local authorities reported four deaths and multiple injuries in Belgorod from October 8 to 9. January to September 2026 data from OHCHR noted 3,890 civilian casualties in the Russian Federation, with 496 killed and 3,394 injured.
The conflict’s regional and global ramifications were underscored by a rise in security threats in neighboring countries, including increased drone attacks on Moldova’s border crossings and escalating strikes on civilian vessels in the Black Sea. A drone attack on October 6 damaged several commercial vessels, leading to the sinking of a ship under Togolese flag, further complicating maritime trade routes.
Khiari stressed the urgent need to halt the attacks on civilian infrastructure and population centers, especially with winter approaching. He also drew attention to the dire situation in Oleshky, Kherson region, where approximately 2,000 residents, including 35 children, reportedly lacked access to essential supplies and were unable to evacuate safely due to ongoing dangers.
In conclusion, Khiari called for immediate diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire, emphasizing the need for constructive dialogue to pave the way toward a sustainable peace in Ukraine, in accordance with international law.
