UN warns “new and dangerous phase of war” in Ukraine

“ Athe consequences make you feel far beyond the battlefield. Don't be fooled. It is not simply an escalation in fighting. It is an escalation in human suffering, regional risk and damage to the principles of the UN Charter and international order,” said Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Peace Consolidation.

At a high level meeting of the UN Security Council on Ukraine, convened by European members of the body and chaired by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, DiCarlo said that this year has been particularly devastating for civilians.

In the first eight months alone, more civilians were killed or injured in Ukraine than during the whole year of 2025.

Since February 2022, at least 17,257 civilians, including 835 children, have been killed in Ukraine and other 53,693 have been injured.

Civil casualties from Ukrainian attacks within the Russian Federation also increased significantly, with Russian authorities reporting 443 deaths and 2,932 wounded from January to August.

However, it is the incidents with cross-border drones and military activities around nuclear installations that are increasing fears of a greater regional impact of the conflict, according to the UN.

“ Concern continues to grow with regard to the consequences of the war on neighbouring Ukraine and the danger of further expansion. The cross-border incursions of drones affecting or approaching the airspace of neighbouring states have become increasingly frequent, increasing concerns about the danger of greater regional spread,” said DiCarlo.

Attacks on border crossings and transport and logistics infrastructure across international borders exacerbate these risks, he added.

In recent weeks, incidents involving drones have been reported in the border areas of Ukraine with Moldova and Poland as well as in Lithuania and Romania.

“The reported military activity within and around Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, as well as nuclear facilities in the Russian Federation, remains a serious concern as well. Any incident that endangers the safety of any nuclear facility can have catastrophic consequences,” the UN representative warned.

As winter approaches, attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure can leave millions of people without heating and electricity, warned DiCarlo, calling for an immediate moratorium on attacks against population centers.

Reaffirming Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Deputy Secretary-General urged the intensification of diplomacy towards an immediate, complete and unconditional ceasefire.

“Diplomatic involvement should be accompanied by a significant de-escalation,” he stressed, warning that without this, the risks to civilians, the region and international peace and security will only increase.