The UK government has accused Russia of deliberately escalating its war tactics against Ukraine through aggravated use of missile and drone attacks, during their appearance at the United Nations Security Council earlier this month.
UN Ambassador James Kariuki stated at the July 9 meeting that Russia’s latest attacks on Ukrainian cities demonstrate a conscious decision to intensify its military campaign.
He said: “The Council meets today because Russia continues to choose escalation over peace.”
According to the government, Russia has carried out two major assaults as of recently, with the latest attack last Sunday reportedly killing at least 26 civilians and injuring over 120 others.
Kariuki attributes Russia’s new tactic as deliberately targeting civilian areas as opposed to isolated military locations.
Since May of 2023, Russia has launched five large-scale attacks compared with only one in 2022, he reported to the Council.
Kariuki said: “Behind every missile and drone is a conscious decision by Russia to bring its war deeper into Ukrainian cities.
“No one can mistake these as actions of a state seeking peace. They are the actions of a state prolonging war.”
UK representatives at the Security Council emphasised the need for any future peace plans regarding Russia’s attacks to be consistent with the UN Charter, so Ukraine’s sovereignty and territories can be protected.
When concluding his contribution to the Council, Kariuki solidified that for peace to be possible, Russia should agree to a ceasefire and participate in any future negotiations to secure just and lasting peace.
Featured Image Credit: Jdforrester via Wikimedia Commons
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