Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
-Ukraine
-Security Council / Ukraine
-Sudan
-Trip Announcement / Sudan
-South Sudan
-Yemen
-Syria
-Occupied Palestinian Territory
-UNIFIL
-Myanmar
-Briefing Tomorrow
UKRAINE
Today in Ukraine, as the war approaches its fifth year, we and our humanitarian partners launched the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which calls for $2.3 billion to support more than 4 million people across the country with life-saving assistance. Overall, nearly 11 million people across Ukraine are estimated to require humanitarian assistance this year. Our colleagues note that widespread disruptions to electricity and to heating during extremely cold winter conditions are creating a crisis within an existing crisis, pushing already vulnerable people to the brink. Humanitarian needs remain most severe in front-line areas and along the northern border, where intensified shelling, destruction of civilian infrastructure and persistent disruptions to essential services is ongoing.
People living in territories occupied by the Russian Federation remain largely cut off from services and protection, while humanitarian access remains extremely limited. Humanitarian assistance works hand in hand with Government-led efforts, with national and local organizations, together with our international partners, all playing a central role in reaching people in the most difficult and dangerous conditions. Meanwhile, authorities report that attacks across Ukraine in the past day resulted in civilian casualties, and disruptions to basic services, all of this continuing in freezing temperatures. The capital Kiyv and its region, as well as the regions of Donetsk, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia were all among the hardest hit. In Odesa, overnight attacks injured several civilians and damaged residential buildings as well as civilian facilities, including offices and premises of several UN organizations.
Across the country, rolling power outages are continuing, and some areas, including parts of capital city, Kyiv, remained without heating as temperatures dropped to –15°C.
SECURITY COUNCIL/UKRAINE
Yesterday afternoon, you will have noted that the Security Council held an open briefing on Ukraine. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, briefed Council members and noted that large-scale aerial assaults by the Russian Federation against civilians and critical civilian infrastructure across Ukraine have resulted in horrific levels of destruction and suffering. Ms. DiCarlo reiterated the Secretary-General’s strong condemnation of all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, stressing that such attacks violate international humanitarian law. She reaffirmed the Secretary-General’s repeated calls for an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire as a first step towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace, grounded in respect for international law and the principles of the Charter of this organization.
Also briefing the Council, Ramesh Rajasingham, OCHA’s Director of Coordination, said that what makes the latest attacks especially devastating is that they cripple systems that keep civilians alive during winter. He underscored that civilians who are enduring these attacks need more than statements of concern from the Security Council. They need concrete action to reduce civilian harm and ensure that humanitarian support continues to reach people when they need it most.
Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-01-13
Office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Website: https://www.un.org/sg/en/spokesperson