Ukraine has said it will bring Russia’s latest wave of large-scale attacks on civilian areas before the United Nations Security Council on Monday, April 20, following strikes that killed at least 15 people and injured more than 100 others across multiple cities.
According to a statement issued by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the overnight attacks targeted residential neighbourhoods in Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro and other regions, causing widespread destruction and civilian casualties, including the death of a child.
Emergency responders were also caught in subsequent strikes while attempting to rescue victims in Kyiv, where three police officers and four paramedics were reported injured.
Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha condemned the attacks, describing them as deliberate and pre-planned acts of terror against civilians.
“Russia’s wave of terror against Ukraine is not accidental; it is part of its military strategy. Such attacks are planned in advance,” Sybiha said.
He further alleged that Moscow had already prepared its military operations despite diplomatic discussions aimed at reducing hostilities.
“This indicates that when Ukraine proposed extending the Easter ceasefire and giving diplomacy a chance, the Russian leadership had already approved plans for further killings of civilians,” he added.
The Foreign Minister said Ukraine will use the upcoming UN Security Council session to call for a stronger international response to what he termed “state-sponsored terror.”
“At the Security Council meeting scheduled for Monday, April 20, at Ukraine’s request, we will raise the need for a strong response from the UN Security Council to state-sponsored terror by Russia,” he said.
Sybiha also urged the international community to increase pressure on Moscow and hold it accountable for continued violations of international law.
“The world must stand united in support of Ukraine, increase pressure on the aggressor, and work to hold it accountable. Together, we must restore respect for international law, including the UN Charter, by putting an end to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine,” he said.
The statement comes amid renewed concern over civilian casualties in the conflict, which the United Nations has repeatedly warned is having a devastating impact on non-combatants.
According to UN figures cited by Ukrainian officials, 2025 was the deadliest year for civilians since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. At least 2,514 civilians were killed in 2025, compared with 2,088 in 2024 and 1,974 in 2023.
Humanitarian agencies have warned that continued strikes on populated areas are worsening an already critical situation, with emergency services stretched and infrastructure heavily damaged in multiple regions.
Ukraine’s decision to escalate the matter to the UN Security Council signals growing diplomatic pressure on Russia amid intensifying international scrutiny of the war’s impact on civilians.
The upcoming session on April 20 is expected to draw global attention, with Ukraine pushing for stronger measures and renewed calls for accountability under international humanitarian law.