Source: UN News: Thursday, June 18, 2026 00:01 AM
The United Nations has strongly condemned the large-scale attacks carried out by Russia on Kharkiv and Kiev. Matthias Schmale, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, has said that overnight attacks by Russian armed forces have once again caused huge loss of life and property and spread fear on a large scale in Ukraine’s most populous cities, i.e. Kharkiv and Kiev. Tweet URL
According to the UN report, for millions of people across the country, Sunday night was spent with hours of air raid sirens and terrifying sounds of explosions. Fires broke out in residential areas and civilians, including many children, were reported killed and injured in Kiev and Kharkiv. According to Ukrainian officials, Russia fired more than 60 missiles at the capital Kiev alone last night, and a total of 70 missiles and 611 drones were used in these attacks across Ukraine. According to reports, some first responders and rescue workers engaged in relief and rescue operations following the previous attack in Kharkiv were also killed or injured in these attacks. There were also reports of other civilian casualties due to violence in the Kiev region and areas around the frontline throughout the night and weekend. This latest attack deepens the worrying trend of increasing harm to civilians. According to the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, In May 2026, the highest number of civilian casualties in a month has been recorded since April 2022. Attacks on religious and cultural heritage According to the report, homes, schools and other civil establishments have been damaged in these attacks. In these attacks, the Dormition Cathedral Church located in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra complex was set on fire. This historic church was built in the 11th century and is considered an important symbol of Ukraine’s religious and cultural heritage. Tweet URL
In addition, an art museum in Kharkiv was also damaged. According to reports, the attack caused extensive damage to the exterior and interior of the Dormition Cathedral Church, while parts of the Lavra’s fortress complex and nearby historical structures, including the Ivan Kushnik Tower, were also affected. UNESCO also condemned attacks on cultural heritage sites, educational institutions, students, education workers and media professionals protected under international law. The UN cultural agency said that damage to such institutions would be Communities are deprived of their culture, education and the shared public spaces that are so essential for recovery and social cohesion. UNESCO ready to cooperate UNESCO has said that it is ready to cooperate with the authorities concerned in assessing the damage caused to cultural and educational institutions and identifying the immediately necessary measures within their jurisdiction. It is noteworthy that under international humanitarian law, cultural and religious sites receive special protection because they are vulnerable to attacks on communities, International humanitarian law clearly states that civilians, including relief and rescue workers, and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all costs. All parties have a responsibility to ensure the protection of homes and other civilian assets, as well as cultural heritage sites.
