Ukraine

A protective sarcophagus or casing was built over the Chernobyl nuclear plant after the accident.
Oleksandr Syrota

‘Disasters know no borders’ says Guterres, 35 years on from Chernobyl nuclear accident

26 April 2021
Health

In his message for Chernobyl International Remembrance Day on Monday, the UN chief reminded that “disasters know no borders”. 

In Ukraine, residents wait in line at the Novotroitske crossing point.
UNOCHA/Yevhen Maloletka

UN-led aid convoy brings 23 tonnes of humanitarian goods across contact line in east Ukraine

23 April 2021
Humanitarian Aid

Twenty-three tonnes of urgently needed aid items have reached the eastern Ukrainian province around Donetsk, after a humanitarian convoy crossed the contact line into non-Government-controlled territory, the UN said on Friday. 

Milad Tower in Tehran, Iran.
Unsplash/Behrouz Jafarnez

Experts accuse Iran of rights violations in shooting down Ukraine airlines flight

23 February 2021
Human Rights

Iran committed multiple human rights violations in shooting downing Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) Flight PS752 last year and in the aftermath of the deadly attack, two  independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council said on Tuesday. 

Agnès Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.
UN Photo/Manuel Elías

Callamard calls for ‘clear, explicit and unambiguous standards’ to protect civilian planes during conflicts

7 January 2021
Human Rights

Urgent measures are needed to protect civilian aircraft flying over conflict zones or other areas where military tensions are high, a UN independent human rights expert said on Thursday. 

UNDP in Ukraine worked with community groups to provide protection masks and suits to medics to help fight the coronavirus pandemic.
UNDP Ukraine/Maksym Kytsiuk

UN sustainable energy project in Ukraine finds a new role: fighting COVID-19

12 May 2020
Health

A United Nations project to promote energy efficiency among Ukrainian homeowners has found a second life – informing 1.8 million of the nation’s citizens on how to combat the COVID-19 virus.

Since the fighting began in early 2014, educational facilities on both sides of the contact line have been damaged or destroyed.
© UNICEF/Aleksey Filippov

Hope for ‘long-elusive progress’ in negotiating peace in eastern Ukraine

18 February 2020
Peace and Security

Marking the fifth anniversary of the 2015 Minsk II agreement, the UN political chief told the Security Council on Tuesday, that along with the Minsk Protocol and the Minsk memorandum, it remains “the only agreed framework” for a negotiated, peaceful settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Iranian Red Crescent, and other relief organizations, participate in an operation to transfer dead bodies after a Ukrainian plane crashed in Tehran, Iran.
IRCS

Ukraine jet crashes in Iran, killing 176: UN chief offers deepest condolences 

8 January 2020
Peace and Security

A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran on Wednesday morning, killing all 176 passengers and crew members on board. In a statement, UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ offered his deepest condolences, saying he was “deeply saddened by the crash”.

Children n Congo Brazzaville gather to draw their rights.
© UNICEF/Diefaga

Tuesday’s Daily Brief: Human Rights Day, Samoa measles, COP25, economic slowdown, Myanmar at ICJ

10 December 2019
Human Rights

A recap of Tuesday’s stories includes a day of activism on Human Rights Day; 70 Samoan lives now claimed by measles; COP25 news roundup from Madrid; global trade on the slide; and legal proceedings begin at the ICJ against Myanmar, as Aung San Suu Kyi prepares to defend her country against genocide allegations.

On 11 October 2019 in the Syrian Arab Republic, a woman holds a child as families displaced from Ras al-Ain arrive in Tal Tamer, having fled escalating violence.
© UNICEF/Delil Souleiman

Friday’s Daily Brief: Syria war update as talks continue, ‘credible evidence’ Morsi death due to prison conditions, force condemned in Chile protests

8 November 2019
Peace and Security

A recap of Friday’s stories in brief: Ongoing upheaval threatens civilians in Syria; ‘Brutal’ prison conditions may have prompted Morsi’s death; Rights experts condemn use of force in Chile protests; ICJ will hear claims by Ukraine; 60,000 youth refugees who travelled alone, in need across Italy. 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres at UN Headquarters, New York (2019)
UN Photo/Manuel Elías

UN chief welcomes prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine

8 September 2019
Peace and Security

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed on Sunday, yesterday’s exchange of prisoners and detainees between Russia and Ukraine.