Following Russia’s new rocket attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyj had requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York. He was connected to the short meeting via video chat.

Wednesday’s Russian attacks led not only to deaths but also to nationwide power outages. The power connection of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, which was occupied by Russia, was also cut off by air strikes. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it currently runs on diesel generators.

That is why at the Security Council meeting, President Zelenskyi called for greater support for Ukraine’s air defense in the form of modern missile defense systems. And: it is necessary to openly call Russia a “terrorist”. He described Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure this Wednesday as “crimes against humanity”. According to Zelensky, Ukraine expects a “very determined response” from the international community in accordance with the UN Charter.

Against this background, the President of Ukraine has also called for a questioning of Russia’s role in the UN Security Council. As an “international terrorist”, Russia should be excluded from all votes in the Security Council.

Zelenskyy said that we must restore justice within the UN structure.

Selenskyj’s demands in the UN Security Council are unlikely to have any consequences due to Russia’s veto power. UN High Representative for Political Affairs Rosemary diCarlo strongly condemned Russia’s attack early in the session. According to DiCarlo, the systematic destruction of critical infrastructure violates international human rights. Council members outside of Russia also agreed on two issues in particular:

1. The critical situation in the Russian-occupied Zaporozhian nuclear power plant poses a great risk and a nuclear disaster must be averted.
2. After the military defeat of Russian troops in recent weeks, Moscow appears to be trying to weaken Ukraine by attacking civilians and their supply lines.

US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that Russia used winter as a weapon.

Even China is distancing itself more and more from Russian war tactics, albeit cautiously. Chinese Ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, addressed both sides in his speech, but generally endorsed the growing condemnation of attacks on critical and civilian infrastructure, calling them “a very worrying development”. Jun said the impact of conflict on people’s lives should be reduced.

Vasily Nebensja, Russia’s Ambassador to the UN, rejected the criticism of the Security Council members. The “Ukrainian regime” falsely blames Russia for the damage to civilian infrastructure actually caused by Ukrainian anti-aircraft missiles. Nebensia demanded that western states stop supplying defense systems to Ukraine.