UN coordinator denounces new wave of attacks in Ukraine

WASHINGTON

The UN humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown, on Wednesday condemned Russian missile strikes in Ukraine.

"I am deeply disturbed again by a harrowing wave of attacks on Ukrainian cities and towns this morning.

"The attacks have led to a distressing number of civilian casualties and have massively disrupted essential services, including electricity, water and gas supplies, especially in Mykolaiv City and Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, when they are much needed this cold winter," Brown said in a statement.

Millions of residents rely on the services for heating, cooking and transportation, she said, adding they are "critically important" to ensure health and education facilities are functional.

"Ukrainians should live without fear of attacks disrupting their lives," said Brown.

Humanitarians have mobilized emergency responses in Kyiv and Mykolaiv, and delivered repair materials and psychosocial assistance to those affected, she said.

Brown stressed that repeated attacks damaging civilian infrastructure and causing injuries and deaths to civilians indicate a "concerning pattern" of harm and international humanitarian law violations.

"Civilians must be spared from violence," she added.

Russia launched its “special military operation” in Ukraine in February 2022. The West took Ukraine's side, imposed heavy sanctions on Russia and has since been providing unprecedented economic, humanitarian and economic assistance to Kyiv.

The conflict will enter its third year on Feb. 24.