Ukraine

Ukrainian flags in front of the House with Chimaeras, Kyiv.
UNDP Kyiv

Ban welcomes ’generally peaceful’ polls in Ukraine, expresses alarm at fresh violence in east

27 May 2014
While welcoming the “generally peaceful” nature of Ukraine’s weekend presidential elections, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed concern that eligible voters in some parts of the county’s crisis torn eastern region were not allowed to participate in the national poll.
Ukrainian flags in front of the House with Chimaeras, Kyiv.
UNDP Kyiv

Ukraine: amid fresh violence in country’s east, Ban appeals for calm ahead of elections

22 May 2014
As violence continues to roil eastern Ukraine, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated today his appeals to all parties ahead of Sunday’s scheduled presidential elections to redouble their efforts to help create the conditions that will allow voters across the crisis-torn country to safely cast their ballots.
Ivan Šimonović, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, speaks to journalists following his closed-door briefing to the Security Council on the human rights situation in Ukraine. Mr. Šimonovic was in Ukraine from 14-19 May on the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission (HRMMU).
UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

Ukraine: UN official cites ‘worsening’ human rights situation in southern, eastern regions

21 May 2014
The southern and eastern regions of crisis-racked Ukraine are now awash in weapons and the scene of numerous cases of illegal detentions and abductions, a senior United Nations human rights official warned today, noting that he had discussed with the parties some rights-based and humanitarian de-escalation measures.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) meets with President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation in Shanghai, China.
UN Photo/Mark Garten

Crises in Ukraine, Syria top agenda at meeting between Ban and Russia’s Putin

20 May 2014
With Ukrainians preparing to elect a new president on Sunday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today sat down with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom he also discussed a long-overdue political solution in Syria and other challenges to international peace and security.
An internally displaced woman folds clothes at a sanatorium in Ukraine that has been welcoming people from Crimea.
UNHCR/N.Dovga

Some 10,000 people in Ukraine now affected by displacement, UN agency says

20 May 2014
The United Nations refugee agency estimated today that 10,000 people, most ethnic Tatars, but also Ukrainians, Russians and mixed families, have fled Crimea and restive eastern Ukraine to other parts of the country, out of fear of insecurity or persecution.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.
UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

‘Alarming’ deterioration of human rights in eastern Ukraine – UN report

16 May 2014
A United Nations report released today documents an “alarming” deterioration of the human rights situation in eastern Ukraine, including serious problems emerging in Crimea, citing numerous examples of targeted killings, torture and beatings, abductions, intimidation and some cases of sexual harassment, committed mostly by anti-Government groups.
Ukrainian flags in front of the House with Chimaeras, Kyiv.
UNDP Kyiv

Despite recent escalation, full-blown conflict in Ukraine can be averted – Ban

12 May 2014
There is still time to avert a full-blown conflict in Ukraine, where the crisis continues to escalate, particularly in the east and south of the country, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.
Ukrainian flags in front of the House with Chimaeras, Kyiv.
UNDP Kyiv

Ukraine: Alarmed by surging violence, UN rights chief urges greater effort to resolve crisis

6 May 2014
Increasing violence in eastern and southern Ukraine is resulting in more and more death and destruction, the top United Nations human rights official said today, calling on all sides in the conflict to make a greater effort to find a peaceful resolution, particularly ahead of the 25 May presidential election.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
UN Photo (file photo)

Ukraine: Ban welcomes release of abducted military observers, urges calm as violence spreads to Odessa

3 May 2014
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the release earlier today of European military monitors and accompanying Ukrainian staff abducted a week ago in the country's crisis-torn eastern region, even as he expressed sadness at the loss of life amid fresh violence in the port city of Odessa.
Security Council meeting on 2 May 2014 on the situation in Ukraine. Jeffrey (left) Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs. Vitaly I. Churkin (right), Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN.
UN Photo/JC McIlwaine

Ban to dispatch top UN political aide to Ukraine, as Security Council meets again on crisis

2 May 2014
As the United Nations Security Council convened its second urgent session this week on the situation in Ukraine, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated his grave concern over the rising tensions in the country’s east and south, particularly events in the crisis-gripped city of Slovyansk, where two Ukrainian military helicopters were shot down overnight and a group of European observes captured on 26 April remains in detention.