UN chief calls for Black Sea de-escalation amid rising civilian death toll

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed deep concern over escalating military activity in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, warning that the conflict continues to threaten global food security and civilian lives.

In a statement delivered by UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq on August 6, Guterres urged all parties to safeguard freedom of navigation and protect civilian maritime infrastructure, Caliber.Az reports per the UN.

“The Secretary-General reiterates his call for urgent de-escalation, leading to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire and for a just, sustainable and comprehensive peace, in line with international law, including the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions,” Haq said.

The UN chief also voiced alarm over the growing toll on civilians following the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since the early stages of the war.

Guterres said recent strikes by both Russia and Ukraine had caused hundreds of civilian casualties, describing them as “a clear violation of international humanitarian law.”

He added: “This latest series of attacks follows an alarming pattern of escalating strikes against populated areas, reportedly resulting in a record-level increase in numbers of civilian casualties and widespread destruction of residential and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, as well as increasingly in the Russian Federation.”

According to the UN, overnight attacks in Ukraine's Kharkiv and Donetsk regions killed one and three people, respectively. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said humanitarian workers are providing shelter assistance, psychosocial support and other aid to civilians affected by the strikes in Donetsk.

Russian authorities, meanwhile, said a Ukrainian strike on a warehouse in the Moscow region killed five people on August 4, while a Ukrainian drone attack on a crowded beach in the Krasnodar region killed seven people on August 3.

By Sabina Mammadli