The United Nations (UN) Security Council will convene an emergency session on Monday, to address Russia’s latest large-scale attack on Ukraine, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced.
The urgent meeting, requested by Kyiv, comes after a massive Russian aerial assault battered Ukrainian cities, targeting residential areas, civilian infrastructure and energy facilities.
“The latest wave of Russian strikes is yet another reminder that Moscow continues to choose escalation over peace, and terror over diplomacy,” Sybiha wrote on X.
A deadly aerial escalation
The diplomatic push follows one of the largest combined Russian air assaults of the year. In a single overnight attack, Russian forces launched 729 aerial weapons at Ukraine, including 73 missiles and 656 attack drones.
Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 642 targets, but several missiles and drones broke through, causing deaths, injuries and major destruction in multiple cities, including Kyiv, Dnipro and Kamianske.
In Kyiv, the attack caused the partial collapse of a nine-story residential building in the Podilskyi district, underscoring the growing toll of Russia’s repeated strikes on civilian areas.
Kyiv demands action, not only condemnation
Sybiha said sustained international pressure on Russia remains essential to restore respect for the UN Charter and advance President Volodymyr Zelensky’s proposal to end the war.
Kyiv is urging its partners to move beyond statements of condemnation and provide stronger practical support, including additional air defense systems, tougher sanctions and increased investment in Ukraine’s long-range defense capabilities.
Ukraine has repeatedly called for the rapid delivery of Patriot systems and interceptors to protect cities from Russian ballistic missiles and drone attacks. Kyiv is also pressing allies to put frozen Russian sovereign assets to full use and tighten sanctions against Moscow.
A crucial diplomatic moment
The upcoming UN Security Council session comes at a sensitive political moment.
Just days before the latest attack, Zelensky issued an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, proposing a direct meeting in a neutral country and a full ceasefire for the duration of negotiations.
According to Ukrainian officials, Russia’s continued large-scale strikes show that the Kremlin is rejecting serious peace efforts and choosing a prolonged war instead.
Sybiha thanked Ukraine’s partners for their continued support and their contribution to efforts to achieve a “comprehensive, just, and lasting peace.”
