Ukraine calls for emergency UN meeting after deadly Russian missile strike
Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN, Andrii Melnyk (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine has submitted a request to convene an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in response to Russia's overnight attack on June 17, according to Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN, Andrii Melnyk, who spoke to Ukrinform.
"I have just signed a letter to the President of the UN Security Council requesting an urgent meeting in response to Russia's escalating missile terror against Ukraine's civilian population," Melnyk said.
Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN noted that just last night, a massive Russian attack claimed the lives of many Kyiv residents, injured over a hundred others, and completely destroyed residential buildings.
"We are not merely dealing with war crimes against the civilian population, which the Moscow regime commits daily and nightly. These are crimes against humanity that require not only condemnation, but also a strong response and concrete action from the international community — first and foremost, from the UN Security Council," he emphasized.
Melnyk added that on Tuesday he would meet with the President of the Security Council, Guyana's Ambassador to the UN, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, to discuss next steps in detail in accordance with the UN Charter.
"I hope that members of the Security Council will deliver a firm response to Russia's criminal actions. It is time to put an end to the Kremlin's impunity," he said.
June 17 attack on Ukraine
On the night of June 17, Russian forces launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine, using nearly 500 attack drones and dozens of missiles.
One of the missiles, an Kh-101, struck the Solomianskyi district of Kyiv, causing the collapse of an entire section of a nine-story apartment building. A fire also broke out in a nearby five-story building.
Additional damage was reported in the Darnytskyi, Podilskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, and Sviatoshynskyi districts. In total, 27 locations across Kyiv came under fire that night.
As a result of the strike on the capital, 10 people were killed and over 100 injured.
That same morning, Russian forces also launched a massive drone attack on Odesa, once again targeting civilian infrastructure.
According to the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, the attack caused extensive destruction: residential buildings, a kindergarten, an inclusive education center, garages, and other facilities were damaged. Fires broke out in several locations.
Two people were killed in the Odesa strike, and more than 20 were injured.
