The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, officials confirmed. The meeting follows Kyiv’s mayor urging residents to leave the capital amid severe heating outages caused by recent Russian strikes.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko reported that nearly half of the city’s residential buildings are without heating in sub-zero temperatures. He warned that the humanitarian situation is worsening and urged residents to seek temporary shelter elsewhere.
Ukrainian Ambassador Andriy Melnyk described the Russian attacks as “an appalling new level of war crimes and crimes against humanity” in a letter to the Security Council. He said the strikes targeted civilians and vital infrastructure, emphasizing the urgent need for international intervention.
The emergency meeting request was supported by six Security Council members: France, Latvia, Denmark, Greece, Liberia, and the United Kingdom, diplomatic sources told AFP. The session will review immediate humanitarian needs and potential diplomatic measures.
Russia recently confirmed launching an Oreshnik ballistic missile at Ukraine, marking the second such strike since the war began in February 2022. The Kremlin claims the Oreshnik, capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads, is unstoppable. The missile targeted the Lviv region, raising concerns about European security, Melnyk added.
The upcoming emergency meeting is expected to address Ukraine’s call for international support, including sanctions enforcement and humanitarian aid delivery. Melnyk highlighted that Russia’s actions represent a “grave and unprecedented threat” not only to Ukraine but to the broader European region.
Officials expect that the Security Council will issue a statement after the emergency meeting, reaffirming its commitment to protect civilians and support Ukraine in coping with the ongoing missile attacks. Kyiv continues to face severe infrastructure damage, making immediate international attention crucial.
The emergency meeting underscores rising tensions in Eastern Europe and the growing need for coordinated international action to prevent further civilian suffering.
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