Can now I believe that we have succeeded to clap with one hand? I understand the ongoing Russia and Ukraine wars and the view for several reasons.

RUSSIA AND UKRAINE WAR: IT MUST BE STOPPED FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY.

?PRESENT SCENARIO

?Rosemary DiCarlo was briefing the? Security Council?alongside the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown,?who said that?with each passing day, UN teams on the ground were facing “new?dimensions?to?the?emergency.” During the briefing the following points were highlighted:

?There is no respite insight to restore peace and security. Though everyone has full clarity about Russia’s military escalation in Ukraine will be more painful and more suffering worldwide, otherwise, a further indication of the likely risk of deployment of nuclear weapons for accomplishing a purpose could steer towards an unstoppable “perilous dangerous spiral”. It is not a fact that is being ignored by the UN. In fact, with each passing day, UN teams apprehend a new dimension to the emergency. “We are?on?a?path?of?further?escalation,?which?can?only?cause?more suffering?to?the people of Ukraine, Russia, and the rest of the world. Threatening against further conversation of any nontraditional weapons use on the battlefield, the risk posed by military activity around the Russian-held Zaphorizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is unexpectedly dangerous. Whether intentional or accidental, any further damage, “could?have calamitously aftereffects.?Any?military?activity against,?from?or?near the site, must cease instantly.” ?As of 18 October, official UN figures show 15,956 civilian casualties so far: 6,322 killed and 9,634 injured since Russia’s invasion of 24 February. At least 397 children have been killed in the war since 24 February. The?actual figures may be higher. The Political Affairs chief said Russia’s new missile offensive targeting civilian infrastructure in towns and cities in recent days, since the explosion on the bridge to Crimea, was a concerning development. These?attacks portend to expose millions of civilians to great hardship and even a suicide attack setting over the freezing winter, even though against international?humanitarian?law,?attacks?targeting?civilians?and civilian infrastructure are banned. Therefore, the Security Council is concerned about the maintenance of peace and security in Ukraine.

?The accountability for international crimes committed during the war, “remains crucial, as?new allegations of atrocities have emerged?in areas that have recently returned to Ukrainian Government control.?We must not let impunity prevail.” The?global?impact?of?the war?in?Ukraine is?“substantial?and?growing”, calling for the extension of the UN-led Black Sea Grain Initiative to export vital foodstuffs markets in need. "To maintain food security worldwide, it is crucial that the initiative be extended beyond November. It is equally critical that there be unimpeded access to Russian food and fertilizers. "The United Nations will?spare no effort to achieve greater food security?for all populations.” The UN General Assembly had been clear that so-called referendums and attempted annexations of southern and eastern regions in Ukraine by Russia, had “no validity?under international?law?and?do?not form the?basis?for?any?alteration?of the status of these regions of Ukraine.” The Assembly has also expressed strong support for de-escalation and a peaceful resolution of the conflict through political dialogue, negotiation, mediation, and other peaceful means, “with respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its?internationally recognized orders?and?in?accordance?with?the?principles?of?the?Charter.

UN Resident Coordinator Denise Brown said The?people?of?Ukraine?are?under?tremendous?stress.?Mental?health issues are emerging, and this will be?one of the most devastating and long-lasting legacies?of this war. The?sheer?depth?of?the?humanitarian?catastrophe?is?staggering.” About 18?million?people?–?more?than?40?per?cent?of?the?entire Ukrainian population – now need humanitarian assistance, with?14?million?forced?to?flee?their?homes,?including 6.2 million internally displaced, and nearly 7.7 million refugees. According to UNICEF, some 5.7 million schoolchildren have been affected since the start of the war. ?Firstly, temperatures are dipping and the ruin?of?civilian?infrastructure?has accelerated with the Russian missile attacks. “The?damage to power?and thermal plants means that?life?will be even harder for the already vulnerable, including elderly people and those with?disabilities.?There?is?an?increased?risk?of?even?more?death?in?the months ahead because civilians may not have access to the essential services to survive.”

All ambassadors are requested that to?solve essential?needs,?the UN has?made a?“separate,?specific?plan for the winter months, built at the oblast level in coordination with?authorities.” In spite of all the risks posed, “we are helping people. To date,?over 590 humanitarian partners are now delivering critical assistance?and protection countrywide. Many of them are national and local aid organizations, women-led organizations, and volunteers who are at the forefront of these efforts. We must commend their leadership, bravery, and commitment.” Including more than 13 million people have been reached?by humanitarians across the country. The newly accessible areas meant being able to reach new communities with humanitarian assistance and essential services, but in liberated areas of Kharkiv, Kherson, and Donetsk, the threat of?landmines and unexploded ordnance?contamination is hindering operations. Psychosocial trauma is emerging as a further dimension of civilian suffering, with the Ukrainian Ministry of Health and WHO?reporting that at least 10 million people will need psychosocial support. “This includes women and girls suffering?sexual violence?and other forms of gender-based violence, children hearing warning sirens daily, families who have been separated, or people just trying to survive every day. “In areas where the Government of Ukraine has regained control, particularly in rural areas,?civilians who have witnessed or experienced terrible violations and ongoing hostilities, are among the most at risk."

Operationally, we are ready to move with interagency convoys and aid personnel into non-Government-controlled areas held by Russia and its allies. “The consequences of not delivering assistance to the estimated millions of people in these areas are dire, particularly the winter months ahead of us.?These are also stressed: ?Security Council: UN calls for ‘spirit and letter’ of Ukraine agreements to be upheld, as Russia issues simplified citizenship decree,?Violence, rhetoric, hate speech, drive atrocity crimes in Ukraine and beyond, Security Council hears, and Ukraine: Cycle of death, destruction, dislocation, and disruption ‘must stop’ and UN General Assembly demands Russia reverse course on ‘attempted illegal annexation. The UN General Assembly?passed a resolution by a large majority, calling on countries not to recognize the four regions of Ukraine which Russia has claimed, following so-called referendums held late last month, and demanding that Moscow reverse course on its "attempted illegal annexation".

?Ukraine: UN-led Grain Initiative helps anchor food supply, chart way out of the crisis

?A?new report?from the UN trade and development body UNCTAD publication shows how the UN-led Black Sea Grain Initiative?has provided hope for millions impacted by rising prices and reduced supplies of staple foodstuffs from war-torn Ukraine. Ukraine war to take Centre stage at UN as west and Russia vie for support. The general assembly is expected to see fresh tussles over the future of Ukraine, as well as famine and climate crisis threats in the global south. The United Nations general assembly during a special session to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.? The UN general assembly summit was dominated by a struggle – between the US and its allies on one side and Russia on the other – for global support over the fate of Ukraine, as the global south fights to stop the conflict from overshadowing the existential threats of famine and the climate crisis. With a return to the fully in-person general debate, presidents and prime ministers converged in New York, many of them direct from London, where the diplomacy got underway on the sidelines of the Queen’s funeral. West weighs calling for China Uyghur abuses inquiry at UN. Russia is currently in retreat on the battlefield and in the contest for global hearts and minds over Ukraine’s fate. The general assembly voted 101-7 with 19 abstentions to allow the Ukrainian president,?to deliver a prerecorded video address, granting him an exemption from the requirement that speakers should appear in person. India, a longstanding Moscow ally that has tended to abstain in votes on Ukraine, voted in Zelenskiy’s favor. The vote was on the same day that India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, publicly criticized Putin telling him “Today’s time is not a time for war” when they made a joint appearance at a regional Asia summit in Uzbekistan. Putin said he was aware of Indian “concerns”, echoing what he had said the day before about China. The weeklong session of United Nations general assembly meetings and leaders’ speeches begins as mass graves are being discovered after the Russian retreat from the Ukrainian town of Izium. War crimes are likely to be central in speeches delivered by Zelenskiy and Joe Biden, and the UN security council will convene a ministerial meeting, chaired by the French foreign minister, Catherine Colonna, focused on accountability for war crimes in Ukraine.

?Despite broad sympathy at the?UN?general assembly for Ukraine’s plight in the face of the Russian invasion, the developing countries have been exasperation by the total focus on the conflict, many pertinent subjects pushed the deliberation and action on parallel food and climate crises that threaten mass displacement and starvation in the global south. Ukraine pressed for more resolutions condemning Russia in the security council and general assembly, but Kyiv’s western backers have warned of the risk that the diminishing numbers supporting such resolutions might become the story. “There has been an ebb and flow of interest and engagement from countries not directly affected by Ukraine and so we’ve had to work hard to make it clear that we’re talking about those issues that do affect them in their own right,” a European diplomat at the UN said.

“Linking the two where relevant is useful because it stops Ukraine being seen as a European problem that doesn’t really matter,” the European diplomat said. Russia and the west have been locked in an advertising battle across Africa?over responsibility for the grain shortages caused by the interruption of exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports. Lavrov has been touring Africa, portraying Russia as a victim of a western imperialist war while highlighting Russia’s role in backing decolonization movements. In a parallel move to bolster its support at the general assembly, the US has abandoned its noncommittal position on the reform of UN institutions like the security council to make them more representative. Speaking about reforming the council, the US assistant secretary for international organization affairs,?Michele Sison said: “We do not believe the United States should defend an outdated status quo. ” While we’re clear-eyed about the obstacles to security council reform, we will make a serious call for countries to forge a consensus around credible, realistic proposals for the way forward,” Sison said. “To remain credible into the 21st century, the council needs to better reflect global realities and incorporate regional perspectives.” As there are competing plans for changing the membership of the security council, all of which would be vetoed by Russia and?China, the change in the US position is unlikely to lead to any concrete reforms. It is aimed primarily at further isolating Moscow and Beijing as guardians of the status quo. The conflict in Ukraine appears further than ever from resolution. Nuclear threats, mass graves, the sense that both sides are “all in”.

?OVERVIEW

The security situation in Ukraine deteriorated rapidly following the launch of a Russian Federation military offensive on 24 February 2022. The armed violence escalated in at least eight oblasts (regions), including Kyivska oblast and the capital city of Kyiv, as well as in the eastern oblasts Donetsk and Luhansk which were already affected by conflict. The escalation of conflict has triggered an immediate and steep rise in humanitarian needs as essential supplies and services are disrupted and civilians flee the fighting. The UN estimates that 12 million people inside Ukraine will need relief and protection, while more than 4 million Ukrainian refugees may need protection and assistance in neighboring countries in the coming months. On 1 March 2022, the UN and humanitarian partners launched coordinated?Flash appeals for a combined $1.7 billion to urgently deliver humanitarian support to people in Ukraine and refugees in neighboring countries. Within Ukraine, the plan requires $1.1 billion to meet the escalating humanitarian needs of more than six million people affected and displaced by military operations over the next three months. Outside the country, the UN requested $551 million to help Ukrainians who have fled across borders, principally to Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. Amin Awad, the UN Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine called for an immediate?humanitarian pause”, on 5 March, in the fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces, as UN aid supplies continue to arrive in the country.

UN SECRETARY-GENERAL

?The message of the General Assembly is loud and clear:?End hostilities in Ukraine — now. Silence the guns — now. Open the door to dialogue and diplomacy — now. We don’t have a moment to lose. The brutal effects of the fight are palpable. But as bad as the situation is for the people in Ukraine right now, it impends from worse to worst. The ticking clock is a time bomb.?The world wants an end to the incredible human suffering in Ukraine. This same truth was clear in the rapid mobilization of funds for our lifesaving humanitarian operations in Ukraine and neighboring countries.?Our global flash appeal was met with record generosity.? Looking ahead, I will continue to do everything in my power to contribute to an immediate cessation of hostilities and urgent negotiations for peace. People in Ukraine desperately need peace. And people around the world demand it.?

?United Nations General Assembly: overwhelming condemnation of Russia’s war on Ukraine.?

?Each time the UN meets to discuss and vote on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, obviously that the majority of the international community judges the invasion wrong and must stop. But still clue is not evident what is also becoming clear is that the world is hopelessly divided as to how to bring the war to an end. The latest vote?in the UN General Assembly saw a clear criticism of Russia’s?illegal annexation?of four Ukrainian regions and a demand for the withdrawal of all occupying forces. The initial draft resolution was sponsored by 43 member states and eventually supported by 143. Apart from Russia, only four other countries voted against the resolution: Belarus, North Korea, Nicaragua, and Syria. So, it’s clear that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has nominal international assistance. But where international consensus is crucially lacking is in relation to how the international community should respond. The key issue appears to be whether – and under what conditions – Moscow and Kyiv should enter into negotiations. This is clearly obvious from the?statements?made before and after the vote. China, India, and South Africa, which all abstained from the vote, voiced concern?that the resolution neglected the broader consequences of the war and wasn’t conducive to finding a political solution. Brazil, while voting in favor, echoed these sentiments. Its representative expressed the country’s disappointment that the “proposal to include a clear message urging the parties to cease hostilities and engage in peace negotiations was not included in the draft”. Similar sentiments in favor of the need to find a diplomatic solution were expressed by most other countries from the global south taking the floor. In terms of the vote, members of the?China-led?Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) either abstained (China, India, Pakistan, Iran, and the states of Central Asia) or voted against (Russia and Belarus).In clear contrast, western delegates focused on Russia’s violations of the UN charter and key principles of international law. As the US permanent representative to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, put up: “the only way to bring peace is for the international community to show what it will not tolerate”.

?Diplomatic dilemma

The problem, therefore, is this. No country has recognized Russia’s annexations – either of Crimea in 2014 or of the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions in 2022. Almost no country has shown support for Russia’s increasingly brutal military campaign in Ukraine. Yet the international community is not united enough to bring an end to the war – either by forcing Russia to cease its military campaign and withdraw troops from Ukraine or by facilitating a negotiated deal to end the war. US secretary of state, Antony Blinken says Washington will never recognize the ‘sham’ referendums.?As long as countries such as China and India refuse to demand Russia end its occupation of Ukraine – and as long as Ukraine and its western backers insist on no negotiations with Russia until then, the resulting impasse allows Putin to keep?escalating?in Ukraine.

Danger of escalation

Importantly, there are also signs the Russian president may up the ante beyond Ukraine. This could include clandestine attacks on critical infrastructures, such as the one on the Nord Stream 2?gas pipeline, or on undersea data cables and cyber-attacks targeting public services and utilities in countries supporting Ukraine. Reneging on Turkey -UN-brokered deal?allowing Ukraine to export grain would be another lever that Putin could use. And there are again?signs?that Belarus might be dragged into Russia’s war. Giving Putin space and time to escalate, thus, presents a problem. And as Putin’s attempts to turn the tide in a war that he is clearly not winning bear little fruit, the ultimate danger of an all-out confrontation with the west and of nuclear Armageddon increases. NATO, the?EU,?and the?G7?have?doubled down on their support?for Ukraine and for sanctions against Russia. As important as this western support is, it has arguably shaped Putin’s perceptions of what his choices are – keep escalating and keep threatening further escalation until a deal between Kyiv and Moscow is seen in the west as the lesser evil and Ukraine is pressured to negotiate something that offers Putin a face-saving way out. Putin has so far managed to prevent the emergence of a truly international coalition against the war. This is just one symptom of a broader problem – the Ukrainian and western narrative on Russia’s illegal war is not universally embraced. This is not because it is wrong, but because it does not suit everyone’s agendas. Curtailing western influence remains popular with autocrats fearful of democracy. The lack of outright condemnation from members of the Brics and the SCO shows the limitations of the western approach.

Simply keeping up support for Ukraine and tightening sanctions on Russia is clearly not enough to force the Kremlin to withdraw from occupied Ukrainian territory and constrain Russian military adventurism in the future. This strategy of proactive containment of Russia can be credited with enabling Ukraine to stand up to Russia. But to secure the full restoration of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the west’s approach needs to be complemented with a more nuanced and comprehensive diplomatic strategy that thwarts Russian efforts to score points among fellow autocrats. The latest UN vote is an indication that efforts in this direction are underway: Saudi Arabia and the other members of the GCC voted in favor of the resolution.

But above all, what is required is more constructive?engagement?with China, perhaps the only other critical actor that can force Putin onto an off-ramp. The sooner this happens, the more it can come from a position of relative strength because, given its global ramifications, in the Ukraine war, time is on nobody’s side anymore.

THE UN AND THE WAR IN UKRAINE: KEY INFORMATION

Hostility against Ukraine

?February 2022

On the night of 23 to 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. In Bakhmut given its deteriorating position in Kherson and its loss of control over large swaths of the northeastern region of Kharkiv, these areas were among the first the Russian military captured after its February 24 invasion of Ukraine. “Russia’s suffering defeats across the board,” said Samuel Ramani, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, a defense think-tank based in London. “They need the optics of some kind of an offensive victory to assuage critics at home and to show the Russian public that this war is still going to plan.” The security situation in Ukraine deteriorated rapidly following the launch of a Russian Federation military offensive on 24 February 2022. The armed violence escalated in at least eight oblasts (regions), including Kyivska oblast and the capital city of Kyiv, as well as in the eastern oblasts Donetsk and Luhansk which were already affected by conflict. The escalation of conflict has triggered an immediate and steep rise in humanitarian needs as essential supplies and services are disrupted and civilians flee the fighting. The UN estimates that 12 million people inside Ukraine will need relief and protection, while more than 4 million Ukrainian refugees may need protection and assistance in neighboring countries in the coming months. The UN and humanitarian partners the security situation in Ukraine worsened rapidly following the launch of a Russian Federation military offensive on 24 February 2022. The armed violence spiraled in at least eight oblasts (regions), including Kyivska oblast and the capital city of Kyiv, together with the eastern oblasts Donetsk and Luhansk which were already affected by conflict. The escalation of conflict has triggered an immediate and steep rise in humanitarian needs as essential supplies and services are disrupted and civilians flee the fighting. The UN estimates that 12 million people inside Ukraine will need relief and protection, while more than 4 million Ukrainian refugees may need protection and assistance in neighboring countries in the coming months. On 1 March 2022, the UN and its humanitarian partners The UN find this attack to be?a violation of the principles of the Charter of the UN. On 25 February, the Secretary-General of the UN chose?Amin Awad?of Sudan as Assistant Secretary-General to assist as UN Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine. On 28 February, the prosecuting attorney of the ICC?initiated an inquiry for?war crimes and crimes against humanity.

March 2022

On 1 March, the United Nations and its humanitarian partners launched?coordinated emergency appeals totaling $1.7 billion?to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to people in Ukraine and refugees in neighboring countries. The UN GA approved?on Wednesday 2 March?a resolution?condemning the “invasion” done by Russia against Ukraine?(141 votes in favor, 5 against, and 35 abstentions). The UN HRC passed a?resolution?on 4 March calling for the “swift and verifiable” withdrawal of Russian troops and Russian-backed armed groups from the entire territory of Ukraine. The UN HRC determined on 5 March to swiftly establish an?independent international commission of inquiry?following Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. On 16 March the?International Court of Justice?ordered Russia to immediately suspend its military operations in Ukraine. On Thursday 24 March, the UN General Assembly overpoweringly demanded?civilian protection and humanitarian access in Ukraine, while also criticizing Russia for creating a “dire” humanitarian situation?(140 votes in favor, 5 against, and 38 abstentions). On 30 March the UN elected three human rights experts to investigate possible violations of international law?carried out during the conflict in Ukraine.

April 2022

In a statement?on Monday, 4 April,?UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet?informed the horrified by the images of people lying dead on the streets and in improvised graves in Bucha. On 7 April, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution?calling for?Russia to be suspended from the HRC. The resolution got a two-thirds majority of those voting, minus abstentions, in the 193-member Assembly, with?93?nations voting in favor and?24?against. ?On 26 April 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted a new resolution?calling on the five permanent members of the Security Council to?justify the use of the veto. End of April, the?UN Secretary-General visited?Russia and Ukraine.

May 2022

The UN Security Council adopted a?statement?on 6 May 2022 in which it?strongly supports the Secretary-General’s efforts to achieve a peaceful solution in Ukraine. The Secretary-General acknowledged the Security Council to be one voice for peace in Ukraine. On 12 May, the HRC approved a resolution at a special session on Ukraine calling for?an?inquiry?into the atrocities alleged against Russian occupation troops. The Director-General of UNESCO disapproved the murder of French journalist Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff on 30 May while covering an evacuation of civilians near the Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk for bfmTV.

June 2022

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine entered its?100th day on Friday, 3 June 2022, António Guterres marked the grim milestone with a?renewed call?for an instant end to the violence. On 6 June, Pramila Patten, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict?told the Security Council?that charges of?sexual violence?by Russian troops in Ukraine are mounting. On 10 June, the UN human rights office, OHCHR?condemned?the death sentence handed down to three foreign fighters in Ukraine by a court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic. On 21 June, the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Wairimu Nderitu,?briefed?the Security Council on Tuesday and reinforced concerns over “the heightened risks” of?sexual violence, and trafficking, which is “significantly impacting women and children”. The United Nations Coordinator for Ukraine estimated on the 100th day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine that the war will have no winner. On 28 June, the?UN political and peacebuilding chief, Rosemary DiCarlo, informed?the Security Council that the “horrific conflict” in Ukraine shows no signs of abating. She observed that since her last update on 5 April, “countless Ukrainian civilians” were killed in undiscerning attacks, cities, and towns leveled, and much of the country’s arable land “horribly disfigured by shelling”.

July 2022

The High Commissioner for Human Rights said at the opening of the?50th session of the HRC?that the war in Ukraine will leave traces for generations and that a global food, energy, and financial crisis threatens the planet. A pact on the resumption of?Ukrainian grain exports?via the Black Sea amid the ongoing war was signed on 22 July. UN Secretary-General said at the signing ceremony in Istanbul, Türkiye, that it is “a beacon of hope” in a world that badly needs it. UN Secretary-General welcome the departure of the first ship from the Ukrainian port of Odesa, carrying grain under the landmark deal signed by Ukraine, Russia, and Türkiye, overseen by the UN.

August 2022

The Secretary-General in Lviv, Ukraine, on 18 August to join in a trilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He then traveled to Odessa, one of three ports used as part of the?“Black Sea Grain”?initiative (an agreement on the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea) is located. On 23 August, the OHCHR voiced concern?after photos and videos released on social media appeared to show metal cages being built in the philharmonic hall in the devastated Ukrainian city of?Mariupol, apparently to house prisoners of war (POWs) during an upcoming?“show trial”. From, the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine, violating the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and the UN Charter. Europe faced the fastest forced population movements since the Second World War, with nearly one-third of Ukraine’s population – roughly 14 million people – being forced to flee their homes. Secretary-General’s remarks to the Security Council, six months since Russia’s 24th of February invasion of Ukraine.

September 2022

On 7 September 2022, the UN political and peacebuilding chief, Rosemary DiCarlo,?updated the Security Council, saying that 5,718 people have been killed, including 372 children.?Ukrainian refugees recorded across Europe have surpassed seven million. On9th September, the head of the UNHRMM?in Ukraine said that nearly 5,800 people have been killed in the conflict in Ukraine and the situation of prisoners of war in Russian-held areas is “worrying”. In Geneva, on Friday 16 September, the UN human rights office (OHCHR), said that?UN investigators already in Ukraine would be looking to see if those buried in mass graves discovered in the Ukrainian city of?Izyum?were soldiers or civilians and whether they had died in hostilities or from natural causes. On 29 September, UN Secretary-General said that Russia’s plan to?annex four occupied regions in Ukraine?would be an illegal move, a violation of international law, and should be condemned. On 30 September, Russia?vetoed?a Security Council resolution condemning the attempted annexation of Ukraine regions.

October 2022

On 10 October, large-scale?missile attacks?by the armed forces of the Russian Federation on cities across Ukraine reportedly resulted in widespread damage to civilian areas and led to dozens of people being killed and injured. Since Oct. 10, Russia launched over 300 strikes on Ukraine's power stations, destroying around a third of the country's energy-generating capacity. Russia openly admits that Ukraine's energy infrastructure is among its key targets. On 12 October, the?UN General Assembly passed a resolution?by a large majority, calling on countries not to recognize the four regions of Ukraine which Russia has claimed, following so-called referendums held in September, and demanding that Moscow reverse course on its?“attempted illegal annexation”. The results were 143 Member States in favor, with five voting against, and 35 abstentions. On 21 October, the?UN’s political affairs chief, Rosemary DiCarlo,?briefed?the Security Council alongside the?Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine,?Denise Brown. They said that with Russia’s military escalation in Ukraine, with each passing day, UN teams on the ground were facing “new dimensions to the emergency.”

Emergency Humanitarian Appeal

By 25 April, this appeal was 70% funded. On 26 April, facing a worsening crisis in Ukraine,?the UN doubled its emergency appeal to $2.24 billion. To date, the?flash appeal is 86% funded. The UN and its partners have?provided more than 8.1 million people with humanitarian assistance and protection?since the beginning of the war. To date, more than 6.7 million people have received food aid and nearly 1.7 million have received cash assistance. The UN and its humanitarian partners are?seeking an additional $226 million to prepare for the arrival of winter in Ukraine. These funds will enable humanitarian agencies to begin critical procurement, distribution, and repair activities. The aim is to provide assistance to 1.7 million people before the 2022/2023 winter season. On 14 September, across Ukraine, over?580 humanitarian partners?provided life-critical aid and protection services to?13.3 million people. On 7 October, aid relief coordinated by OCHA?visited?areas of northeast Ukraine recently reclaimed from Russian control amid ongoing fighting. On 25 October, at an?international conference in Berlin to aid the war-ravaged nation., hosted by Germany and the European Commission,?the European Investment Bank (EIB)?and?the UNDP Development Programme (UNDP), signed a €2 million agreement that will help restore damaged public buildings in Ukraine and contribute to recovery and reconstruction that is green, resilient, and inclusive.

Civilians’ security and protection is the first priority

The UN is making the protection of civilians its priority and intensifying its?humanitarian operations?in and around Ukraine. The UN needs?safe and unhindered access?to all areas affected by the Russian military offensive. There is an?urgent need to find a safe passage for life-saving medical supplies and health personnel. The WHO has strongly condemned acts of violence against health centers, which are?violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. As of 26 October, WHO?has confirmed 631?attacks on health care since the war began. The UN’s head of political affairs warned the Security Council on Friday (11 March) that such direct attacks not conforming international law and amount to war crimes. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights denounced on 11 March the use in Ukraine of Russian cluster munitions killed many civilians. On 22 August, nearly six months since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, UNICEF verified at least 972 children were killed or injured that at least by the violence. As per the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as of 24 October, 16510 causalities civilian are recorded, including 6374 deaths. The actual figure could be significantly higher as reported victims are confirmed. Tens of millions of people are in “potential danger of death “.

On 9 September, the?UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)?published a special report on the situation of people with disabilities in Ukraine. The Committee?reported?that people with disabilities trapped in the Russian control zones in Ukraine are reportedly being used as “human shields” by the Russian Federation armed forces. A new UN report?developed by the gender agency UN Women and the Secretary-General’s Global Crisis Response Group described how the war widened?gender gaps?in hunger, education, and poverty, and has also increased gender-based violence. On 23 September,?the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine?told the Human Rights Council that based on the evidence gathered by the Commission, it had concluded that?war crimes?have been committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine. There are reasonable grounds to believe “an array” of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law have been committed. On 18 October, the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine presented its 1st detailed written report?to the UN General Assembly.

Europe’s biggest refugee crisis since the WW-II

Over 7 million people fled Ukraine?and nearly 7 million Ukrainians are internally displaced. This is the fastest forced population movement since the Second World War. It is important that solidarity with the victims of this war be extended without any discrimination.?As of 8 March, UN agencies were present in each of the country’s 24 blasts and had provided life-saving?humanitarian assistance to 2.1 million people in Ukraine. The?WFP?plans to reach 4.8 million conflict-affected people through cash transfers and in-kind food distributions. The UNDP warned that Ukraine could “freefall into poverty “. As per a recent IOM survey, around?28%?of the estimated 6.8 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine fled from the Kharkiv Region.?On 23 September UN refugee agency, UNHCR, published a new survey “Live on hold: Intentions and Perspectives of Refugees from Ukraine.” ?On 10 October, UN human rights experts?expressed serious concerns?for migrants from Ukraine, saying?a third of the population had fled the country?since the war started, and that women, children, older people and people with disabilities had been placed in extremely vulnerable situations.

?Nuclear facilities

Nuclear power plants should never be targeted by military operations. “Military operations around nuclear sites and other critical civilian infrastructure are not only?intolerable but also reckless,” Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN’s chief of political affairs, told the fifteen-member Council. The?IAEA visits the?Zaporizhzya Nuclear Power Plant?in Ukraine empowered to conduct a prime technical activity in nuclear safety, security, and protections and also provide a stabilizing influence, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi told the UN Security Council on 11 August. On 6 September 2022, in his briefing to the?Security Council, UN Secretary-General António Guterres?underlined?the need to de-escalate the situation around the embattled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. On 9 September, the head of the IAEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi,?warned?that shelling in the Ukrainian city of?Enerhodar?is putting a risk at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). 12 September: IAEA Director General restated an urgency for the formation of a nuclear safety untenable and security protection zone at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.

Food security

According to the IFAD, the war in Ukraine is?risking global grain supplies and food security. FAO echoed the same any supply and delivery chains for grains and oilseeds, and restrictions on Exports from Russia will have a significant impact on food security. An additional 8 to 13 million people undernourished worldwide?if food exports from Ukraine and Russia are stopped by war. The UN Secretary-General?warned?of a “hurricane of famine” and a “collapse of the global food system”. Over 3 months of the war in Ukraine, the Secretary-General has warned that the war in Ukraine threatens to unleash an?unprecedented wave of hunger and destitution, leaving social and economic chaos in its wake. People globally are facing a cost-of-living crisis not seen in more than a generation. On 13 July, Secretary-General António Guterres?said?that a “critical step forward” had been taken to allow the “safe and secure export” of millions of tons of grain via the Black Sea. The UN chief described progress between Russia and Ukraine on allowing the?resumption of grain exports?as a “ray of hope to ease human suffering and alleviate hunger around the world.” The first vessel carrying Ukrainian wheat grain to support humanitarian operations run by the (WFP) has left the port of Yuzhny, the UN agency reported on 16 August. On 27 August, more than one million tons of grain and food items were exported under?the Black Sea deal. As of?14 Sept, 2.7 million tons of grain and other foodstuffs have been shipped from Ukraine’s ports under the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

?Battle for Bakhmut heats up as Russian forces edge closer

Ukrainian soldiers have been fighting to advance Russian forces near the city in the eastern Donbas region. Russian soldiers pounding Bakhmut with artillery are slowly edging closer to the eastern Ukrainian city. The fighting in the past month, unfolded in southern Ukraine’s Kherson region, the battle intensifying around Bakhmut demonstrates Russian President Vladimir Putin’s want for visible gains following weeks of clear holdups. Is Russia setting a trap in Kherson? Taking Bakhmut would rupture Ukraine’s supply lines and open a route for Russian forces to press on towards Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, key Ukrainian strongholds in Donetsk province. Pro-Moscow separatists have controlled parts of Donetsk and neighboring Luhansk province since 2014. Bakhmut facing an “exchange of fire taking place between Ukrainians and the Russians”. “The Russians have made some gains, but they’re still not in Bakhmut,” Baig said. “The Ukrainians have said they managed to repel those attacks.” Mercenaries from the Wagner Group, a Russian military company, are reported to be leading the charge. Russia has battered Bakhmut with rockets for more than five months. The ground assault accelerated after its troops forced the Ukrainians to withdraw from Luhansk in July. The line of contact is now on the city’s outskirts.

Russia’s extended drive for Bakhmut exposes Moscow’s “craziness”. ?Zelenskyy said in an address to the nation recently “Day after day, for months, they have been driving people there to their deaths, concentrating the maximum power of artillery strikes there,” Zelenskyy said. The shelling killed at least three people from Wednesday to Thursday, according to local authorities. Four others died between Thursday and Friday in the Donetsk region, the province’s Ukrainian governor reported as Russian troops press their attacks on Bakhmut and Avdiivka, a small city about 90km (55 miles) to the south that also remains under Ukrainian control. Even after the very best, Russian forces are gaining 1km (0.6 miles) a week towards Bakhmut. ?The city had a population of about 73,000 people before the war, but about 90 percent have left the city, according to Kyrylenko, the Donetsk region’s governor. Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said the civilian population was suffering as the region has become an active war zone. “Civilians who remain in the region live in constant fear without heating and electricity. Their enemy is not only Russian cannons but also the cold.” Everywhere around us there are signs of destruction,” Baig said. The shortage of power in the city, and constantly hearing the battle and ongoing fighting taking place. Many people have already left and taken shelter in cellars. Russia needs a victory in Bakhmut given its deteriorating position in Kherson and its loss of control over large swaths of the northeastern region of Kharkiv to a Ukrainian retaliation last month. The Wagner Group played a prominent role in the war, and human rights organizations have accused its soldiers for hire of committing atrocities. Their deployment around Bakhmut reflects the city’s strategic importance to Moscow.

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 247

However, it is unclear if the mercenaries have made many tangible gains, Ramani said. “We’re seeing a situation where the Wagner Group is quite effective at creating terror amongst the local residents, but much less effective at actually capturing and holding territory,” he said. ?‘There’s no future in Ukraine’: War worsens demographic crisis. ?The refugee crisis is exacerbating Ukraine’s irreversible demographic decline, which began in the Soviet era. In rare admission, Kadyrov acknowledges high losses in Ukraine. Chechen leader Kadyrov said 23 of his fighters were killed and 58 others wounded in artillery shelling by Ukraine. Its troops are expected to make a bid for Kherson, one of four partially occupied provinces Russia annexed.

?Russia-backed official says Kherson civilian departures completed

Experts say the looming battle for Kherson city?will decide whether Ukraine can loosen Russia’s grip on the south. Ukrainian soldiers and armored personnel carriers guard a checkpoint near the village of Salkovo, in the Kherson region. The head of Russian-annexed Crimea has announced the completion of civilian departures organized by Russia’s forces in the occupied Kherson region, in southern Ukraine, amid a retaliation by the Ukrainian army. “The work to organize residents leaving the left side of the Dnieper [River] to safe regions of Russia is completed,” Sergei Aksyonov said after he visited the region with the Kremlin’s domestic chief Sergei Kiriyenko.

Russian-appointed authorities in Kherson have urged residents to cross to the right bank of the Dnieper River as Ukrainian forces make gains in the south. Ukraine’s government compares this to Soviet-like “deportations” of its people. “The crossing [of the Dnieper] is empty!” Aksyonov said. On Wednesday, a Russian-installed official in Kherson, Vladimir Saldo, said at least 70,000 people have left their homes in the region in the space of a week. The Ukrainian army, meanwhile, said on Friday that Russia’s “so-called evacuation” was continuing. It added that the Russian command in Kherson was trying to “hide the real losses of servicemen” to “avoid panic”.

In a sign of Russian forces suffering heavy losses, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said late on Thursday that 23 of his fighters were killed in battles near Kherson this week, with 58 others wounded. “At the beginning of this week, one of the Chechen units was shelled in the Kherson region,” Kadyrov, who has sent his militia to fight alongside the Russian army, said on Telegram. The Kremlin ally rarely reveals defeats but admitted that losses were “big on that day”. Russian forces have promised to turn Kherson into a “fortress” and not surrender the city, which they took over early in their offensive.?Aksyonov said he and Kiriyenko also visited the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant – Europe’s largest atomic facility – further north on the Dnieper River in Russian-occupied territory. He said they “met with the staff and assessed the general situation in the area of the plant”. Ukraine accuses Russian forces of “kidnapping” the plant’s staff and said last week that approximately 50 employees were held in “captivity”. Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of shelling the plant, sparking fears of a nuclear disaster.

?Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 247

As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its 247th day, we take a look at the main developments. President Yoon Suk-yeol said no lethal military aid was sent to Kyiv after Russian president warned of harmed relations. Russian president says it is pointless for Moscow to strike Ukraine with nuclear weapons, slams West for ‘fueling’ war. Energy crisis is leading to policy changes and more investment in green energy amid sanctions on Russia’s supplies.

Key developments on Oct. 27:

?Russia has launched over 4,500 missiles against Ukraine since February. Air Force says Russia runs out of missiles, changes war tactics. Russian Defense Minister claims mobilization in the country is complete, over 80,000 soldiers have already been sent to Ukraine. Regular electricity supply to Kyiv likely is restored in 2-3 weeks. Russian Defense Minister Shoigu claimed?on Oct. 28 that the country had mobilized 300,000 people with an average age of 35. Shoigu alleged that 80,000 mobilized soldiers were sent to Ukraine, with nearly half of this amount already engaged on the front line. Yet, a statistical analysis by Russian independent media outlet Mediazona suggests?that around 492,000 men have likely been conscripted into the army since Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's declaration of a "partial mobilization" of 300,000 men on Sept. 21. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia carried out?4,500 missile strikes on Ukraine and more than 8,000 air raids since the start of the full-scale invasion on Feb. 24. He reported on Oct. 27 that Russian forces launched over 30 Shahid-136 drones in the last two days, and the Ukrainian military downed 23 of them.?Air Force spokesman, Yurii Ihnat, said on Oct. 28 that Ukraine has shot down over 300 Iranian-made Shahid-136 kamikaze drones so far. Zelensky earlier reported that Russia could have ordered as many as 2,400 Shahid-136 drones from Iran. Iran continues to deny supplying weapons to Russia.

?Mobilization in Russia

While Russian authorities claimed the mobilization would be "partial," military enlistment offices have arbitrarily drafted those with no military experience, people with disabilities and severe diseases, and fathers of three or more children – who are all supposed to be exempt. However, the writers about the Russian military claimed that the number of dead and wounded among newly mobilized service members is likely higher than official figures due to a lack of training, equipment, unit cohesion, and commanders, the Institute for the Study of War said on Oct. 13. The U.K. Defense Ministry said in its intelligence briefing on Oct. 15 that mobilized Russian reservists deployed to Ukraine over the past two weeks were poorly equipped and likely forced to buy their own body armor.?

Moscow changes war tactics

Ukraine's Air Force believes that Russia has changed its tactics in Ukraine to attacking only critical infrastructure sites, not military bases, due to a shortage of high-precision weapons.?As Moscow's stock of Iskander ballistic missiles has run out, the Kremlin started trying to buy missiles from Iran and North Korea, said Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat. At the same time, Polish President Andrzej Duda said he believes Russia is trying to freeze the war using nuclear weapons as blackmail.?On Oct. 27, Putin claimed that Ukraine had the intention to detonate a "dirty bomb." The Kremlin provided zero evidence, and Ukraine and NATO countries have denied Russian claims.? The U.K. Defense Ministry's Intelligence said on Oct. 28 that the Russian military has been transitioning to a long-term defensive position on most areas of the front line in Ukraine. However, the ministry said even if Russia manages to build up those defensive lines, its "operational design will remain vulnerable." Russia's "severely undermanned, poorly trained force in Ukraine is only capable of defensive operations," the U.K. Defense Ministry wrote. The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on Oct. 28 that Russia is currently strengthening its units in the southern Kherson Oblast.? According to the Ukrainian military, up to 1,000 mobilized military personnel have joined Russian units on the right bank of the Dnipro River. These troops are settling in the houses of local residents who left the occupied territories, said General Staff spokesman Oleksandr Shtupun.

On Oct. 24, Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's intelligence chief, said Russia was creating?an illusion that troops were leaving Kherson. Instead, they are bringing new military units that are preparing to fight for the city, according to Budanov. Zelensky?confined?that Russian statements about plans to retreat from Kherson were disinformation. "Their most trained soldiers are in their positions, no one has left," Zelensky said. Russia has recently intensified attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure sites with missiles and kamikaze drones, causing regular blackouts across the country. Russian attacks on energy infrastructure in Kyiv Oblast on Oct. 27 have sharply worsened the electricity supply in Kyiv, leaving only 600-800 megawatt-hours, from the needed 1,000-1,200 MWh,?as per?energy supplier Yasno.?Longer power cutoffs "affecting a much larger number of consumers" were introduced to avoid a "complete blackout," according to the company. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that the regular electricity supply in Kyiv will likely be restored in 2-3 weeks. It is noted that the capital is facing an electricity shortage of around 20% to 50%. Klitschko said Kyiv has received new air defense equipment, which he hopes means "there will be no more (Russian) attacks using kamikaze drones."

Attacks and casualties

The General Staff reported?on Oct. 28 that Russian forces launched three missiles and 14 airstrikes on Ukraine during the day, as well as carried out over 50 MLRS attacks. The report said, 30 settlements in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kherson, and Mykolaiv oblasts were hit. In the past 24 hours, Russian forces have killed four civilians and wounded nine in Donetsk Oblast, according to Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. The bodies of five more people killed by Russian troops during the occupation have been discovered in the village of Shandryholove, Kyrylenko said. Russian troops have also shelled Nikopol, Marhanets, and Chervonohryhorivka, in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Governor Valentyn Reznichenko reported on Oct. 28.?He said Russian forces were using Grad missile launchers and heavy artillery. In the city of Nikopol, several power lines, a dozen high-rises, and private residences were damaged.?

?Putin declared a “partial mobilization” of 300,000 reservists on Sept. 21, after a series of military defeats, saw Russian forces routed from east Ukraine’s Kharkiv region and under increasing pressure in the southern Kherson region. The move touched off an exodus of military-age men from Russia, with tens of thousands heading for countries including Georgia, Armenia,?and?Kazakhstan, which allow Russians to enter without visas. Russia's partial mobilization of troops for Ukraine is complete, the defense minister says.?Sergei Shoigu said that of the 300,000 mobilized recruits, 218,000 remained in training, while 82,000 had been deployed to the conflict zone. Mobilized recruits undergo combat training at a firing range in Russia's Yaroslavl Region.?Speaking at a meeting with Russian President?Vladimir Putin?broadcast on state television, Shoigu told Putin: “The task set by you of (mobilizing) 300,000 people has been completed. No further measures are planned.” He said that in the future, recruitment for the Ukraine campaign would be based on volunteers and professional soldiers, rather than mobilizing more of Russia’s several million reservists.

?Conclusion

?Independence is an expensive currency. Both Ukraine and its journalists are paying a high price to preserve its independence. Support Ukraine's trusted journalism in its darkest hour. What is happening is not news, for centuries, wars have taken place to control many areas. But the only striking difference is that both World Wars created all the countries on two sides. The present war is repeating history again. The world's countries aligned under the leadership of the UN's most popular USA now appears unipolar but look like a shadow of bipolar. In the history of the UN, I could not find an example where a single country could not follow any rules and regulations. If we deny Russia's veto power, the question of effectiveness and non-partiality arises a complete overhaul of the UN. When the UN has been established and the status of the present nation is totally transformed. The digital era or cyber era is also distorting the world. Yesterday some countries thought, it was in its realm but now progress in developing countries is just on the verge of changing the world order. No idea is more important leverage of human capital. Data is now power where it is stored, place is not important. If the above said war stops and most of the devastations are addressed. The future is bright as no war continues forever. ????