Ukraine calls emergency UN Security Council session after strikes kill 20

Ukraine called an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday, Oct. 30, after Russian missile and drone strikes killed at least 20 people and wounded 109 nationwide.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the strikes — hitting targets from Dnipro and Chernihiv to Kremenchuk and Kyiv — targeted children, private homes, civilian infrastructure and railway facilities. He described the attacks as a gross violation of international law and the UN charter.

Sybiha repeated Ukraine's longstanding accusation that Russia exploits its permanent seat on the Security Council to block the body from acting on the war, a veto power Kyiv has called for revoking since December 2022. Kyiv renewed its call for partners to supply more air-defence systems and impose tighter sanctions on Moscow.

"Russia must understand that its campaign of terror leads only to consequences, not concessions," Sybiha said, adding that Moscow must be held accountable for what he called its crimes.

The statement came as the Trump administration continues to ease economic pressure on Russia. On Oct. 9, President Donald Trump struck a diesel deal with President Vladimir Putin, and Washington formally authorised the sale and import of Russian diesel through April 7, 2027. Senior US envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed on Oct. 21 that Washington and Moscow are discussing future economic and trade cooperation alongside negotiations to end the war.