The United Nations has issued a stark warning over the war in Ukraine, with Secretary-General António Guterres telling the Security Council that the conflict risks spiralling “out of control” following a massive wave of Russian missile and drone strikes.
At an emergency session in New York, Mr. Guterres called for an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire,” stating that the current trajectory of the war is unsustainable and that “the death spiral must stop” .
‘Out of control’
The Secretary-General’s appeal came after Russia launched approximately 90 long-range missiles and 600 drones during attacks on May 23 and 24, killing at least five people and injuring more than 100 across Ukraine, with the heaviest damage reported in the capital Kyiv . Diplomatic premises and a compound housing UN agencies were also affected by falling debris .
“The direction of the war – the escalation and the intensification that we are witnessing – risks to get out of control,” Mr. Guterres warned. “The risk of miscalculation. The risk of escalation with unknown and unintended consequences” .
Rising civilian toll
The UN human rights office (OHCHR) verified that 815 civilians have been killed and 4,174 injured in Ukraine between January and April 2026 – a 21 percent increase in casualties compared to the same period last year .
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, more than 15,000 civilians – including nearly 800 children – have been killed in Ukraine, according to verified UN figures . Mr. Guterres noted that reports from the Russian Federation also indicate a growing number of civilian casualties, including children .
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged both sides to return to negotiations. “I strongly urge restraint. Resume negotiations and end the suffering,” he said in a statement . He also referenced a Ukrainian strike on an educational complex in the Russian-occupied city of Starobilsk on May 21-22, which Russian authorities said killed 21 people and injured 44 others .
‘Time for peace is now’
Speaking as Israel escalates operations in Lebanon and tensions persist in the Gulf and Gaza, Mr. Guterres warned that the world now faces the highest number of conflicts since the founding of the United Nations .
“What is needed now is de-escalation – immediate and sustained. What is needed now is a full and unconditional ceasefire. What is needed now is more diplomacy,” Mr. Guterres said .
“The choice is clear. The responsibility is clear. The time for peace is now” .
