August 19, 2026 09:39 am (IST)
Follow us:
UNSC concerned over deadly fighting in eastern Ukraine
New York, May 29 (IBNS): In the United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) first meeting on Ukraine since the presidential election there, United Nations political chief Jeffrey Feltman said violence in the country's east has dramatically increased and reiterated Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's call on President-elect Petro Poroshenko to steer the country away from instability.
“Despite what we at the United Nations hope will be the beginning of a new chapter for Ukraine, violence rages on in parts of the east, causing loss of life and injuries,” Feltman, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs told the 15-member Council.
He noted that Ban spoke by phone with the President-elect in the morning to congratulate him “on having received a strong mandate from the people” to steer the country “towards security, greater prosperity and genuine democratic governance.”
The Secretary-General welcomed Poroshenko’s statements to immediately engage in dialogue and de-escalation, and reaffirmed the critical need to exercise restraint and reach out to eastern Ukraine.
In Lugansk and Donestsk Oblasts, both in eastern Ukraine, a “dramatic increase in deadly fighting” has led to casualties on both sides which continue to increase, Feltman said.
“While we are unable to confirm the details, the Secretary-General is concerned by reports of scores of casualties; by suggestions regarding the circulation and use of heavier weaponry in the east; and by allegations of arms, fighters, and trucks entering Ukraine,” said the Under-Secretary-General.
He also noted video footage purporting to show a UN-marked helicopter allegedly being used inside Ukraine. While the UN is unable to determine the veracity of the images, Feltman recalled that countries which contributed peacekeeping equipment must remove all logos and UN signs from the items once they are no longer being used for official UN purposes.
On behalf of Ban, he further appealed to the international community “to use the outcome of the elections as an opportunity to unite in support of a peaceful, stable, prosperous and united Ukraine.” In addition, Feltman expressed Ban’s alarm at the temporary restraint of 11 Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) election monitors in Donetsk Oblast. The incident follows the capture of four OSCE monitors on 26 May, who have been held for the past two days.
“The Secretary-General is appalled that international staff have again been put in such grave danger. He calls for their immediate release and appeals to all with influence to assist,” the UN official stressed.
(Wide view of the Security Council during its meeting on the situation in Ukraine. UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras)
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Indian-origin industrialist Lakshmi Mittal’s Ukraine steel plant hit by Russian strike, 2 killed, 13 injured
Mon, Aug 17 2026
One of Kyiv's largest aerial attacks:Russia claims 822 Ukrainian drones downed, apocalyptic blaze videos go viral
Sun, Aug 16 2026
One of Kyiv's largest aerial attacks:Russia claims 822 Ukrainian drones downed, apocalyptic blaze videos go viral
Sun, Aug 16 2026
Russia launches fresh wave of strikes on Ukraine, 3 killed
Sun, Aug 16 2026
Who is Jason Arday? Former Cambridge professor found dead days after resignation amid plagiarism row
Sat, Aug 15 2026
Cambridge University appointed academic who backed 'terrorist' group Hizb ut-Tahrir
Thu, Aug 13 2026
North Korea fires ballistic missile towards East Sea ahead of major South Korea-US exercise
Wed, Aug 12 2026
Bashar al-Assad sentenced to death by Syrian Court for war crimes
Tue, Aug 11 2026