May 26 - U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "deeply concerned" about Russia's declaration that it plans to carry out strikes against Ukrainian defense enterprises and decision-making centers in Kyiv.
Guterres delivered the remarks to the United Nations Security Council after Moscow announced on Monday its intention to mount such strikes. The announcement followed one of the heaviest bombardments of Kyiv since the Russia-Ukraine war began, occurring the previous day.
The secretary-general also linked the Russian statement to reports of a recent Ukrainian drone attack on a college building and an adjoining dormitory in Starobilsk, which the statement describes as presently under Russian control.
Responding to those reports, Guterres said: "We condemned the attack on the school - as we condemn all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, wherever they occur." He further warned of the broader consequences, saying: "Now more than ever, it is imperative to avoid any escalation of a conflict that has already exacted a devastating toll on civilians, and that risks making the search for peace even more distant, prolonging the suffering of people."
Addressing the Security Council, Guterres emphasized the need to prevent actions that could widen the conflict and increase harm to non-combatants. His statement underscores the U.N. concerns about recent military developments, including the announced targeting of defense-related sites and centers of decision-making in a capital city.
The secretary-general's comments reflect the U.N.'s position condemning attacks on educational institutions and civilian infrastructure, while flagging the danger that further strikes and counterstrikes could intensify the humanitarian toll and impede diplomatic efforts toward peace.
Context and implications
Guterres' remarks came in the immediate aftermath of a series of violent incidents: Moscow's declaration of intent to strike Kyiv's defense and command locations, and reports of a drone strike on a college and dormitory in Starobilsk. The sequence prompted a U.N. appeal to avoid escalation and to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
As presented to the Security Council, the situation remains fluid, with the U.N. urging restraint and warning that further intensification risks prolonging civilian suffering and distancing prospects for peace.