“As temperatures fall well below freezing, the Russian Federation has intensified its systematic attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure,” he said, noting that the attacks had killed and injured dozens of civilians and deprived millions of electricity, heat and water for prolonged periods.
The impact, he added, is felt more intensely by older people, children and people with limited mobility.
Drone and missile attack
Ms. DiCarlo cited a major nighttime bombing raid on Jan. 8-9 in which Russia reportedly launched 242 drones and 36 missiles.
In kyiv, at least four people were killed and 25 injured, including a paramedic who died while responding to an earlier attack, apparently hit by the so-called “double tap” attack.
Almost half of the capital was left without heatingand hundreds of thousands of residents were affected.
Energy and residential facilities were also damaged in the western region of Lviv, near the border with Poland, where an intermediate-range ballistic missile known as “Oreshnik” was reportedly used for the second time since 2024.
It is believed that the weapon capable of carrying nuclear chargesincreasing international concern.
Ports and shipping have also been attacked. On January 8, two foreign-flagged civilian vessels were attacked by Russian drones in the Odessa region.
Two people were reportedly killed and eight injured in subsequent port attacks that damaged storage facilities and containers. Odessa was attacked again on Sundayin what Ms DiCarlo described as a “worrying escalation” targeting Ukraine’s port infrastructure and commercial shipping.
USG DiCarlo reports to the Security Council.
Humanitarian consequences
The humanitarian impacts were described by Ramesh Rajasingham, Director of the Humanitarian Sector at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
He said that large-scale strikes were taking “the very means of winter survival to the brink” when temperatures dropped to almost -10 degrees Celsius.
“What makes these attacks especially devastating is that they cripple the systems that keep civilians alive during the winter,” he said.
In Kryvyi Rih, families have been melting snow for washing and heating water with candles during prolonged power outages.
In kyiv, more than 1,200 heated safe spaces are operating, along with 68 additional heating points established by emergency services and humanitarian partners.
A broad view of the Security Council meeting.
The displacement continues
Civilians continue to flee frontline areas in dangerous conditions, especially the Donetsk region, with many arriving in safer areas in need of shelter, medical care and winter assistance. Humanitarian access remains limited.
According to UN estimates, 10.8 million people in Ukraine need humanitarian assistance.
On Tuesday, The UN and its partners are set to launch a humanitarian appeal of $2.31 billion by 2026 to support 4.12 million people facing the most dire needs..
Both officials reiterated that attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law. “They are unacceptable, unjustifiable and must be stopped immediately,” DiCarlo said.
“Civilians suffering from these attacks need more than just statements of concern from this council. They need concrete measures to reduce civilian harm and ensure humanitarian support continues to reach people when they need it most,” Rajasingham added.