Deadly drone and missile attacks in Ukraine over the weekend represented a "dangerous cycle of escalation" in Russia's full-scale four-year-old war, the UN Security Council heard on Monday from Mohamed Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations.
The human and cultural costs of the Russian attacks in Ukraine are mounting, speakers warned, underscoring the urgency of a full ceasefire, renewed diplomacy and sustained humanitarian funding.
Khiari reported that at least 16,126 civilians, including 796 children, have been killed since Moscow's 2022 invasion, with recent missile and drone attacks striking Kyiv and other regions, damaging homes, infrastructure and the historic Dormition Cathedral.
Kyiv accused the Russian forces of deliberately targeting civilians and cultural landmarks, warning that the Ukrinian government's patience for negotiations is limited. Moscow defended its military campaign, denied striking religious sites and blamed Ukraine and Western governments for prolonging the war.
Security Council members broadly agreed on the need for negotiations, but sharp disagreements over the war's causes and conduct continue to block consensus on how to end it.
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Business News
June 19, 2026 16:46 ET Major central banks continued to dominate the economic news flow this week too, led by the Federal Reserve, as they announced their latest policy decisions. The Federal Reserve policy session was in focus as it was the first to be led by the new chief Kevin Warsh. In Europe, central banks of the U.K. and Switzerland announced their rate decisions. In Asia, the Bank of Japan drew attention for its policy moves, while data out of China threw some light on the state of the economy.