UN Security Council Meets to Discuss Russia's April 14 Combined Attack on Ukraine

The UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting on April 20, 2026 at Ukraine's request to discuss Russia's recent combined attack on Ukrainian cities, which struck Dnipro and other locations on April 14.

Background: The April 14 Attack

Russia carried out a large-scale combined assault using both cruise missiles and Shahed-type drones against multiple Ukrainian cities on April 14. The attack on Dnipro and other cities prompted Kyiv to formally request a Security Council session, arguing that the strikes constituted war crimes targeting civilian areas and infrastructure.

Support for Ukraine's Request

Six member states joined Ukraine in requesting the meeting: Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, Liberia, and the United Kingdom. The session was scheduled to begin at 15:00 New York time (22:00 Kyiv time).

Two senior UN officials were expected to brief the council: Mohamed Khaled Khiari, UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, and Joyce Msuya, Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

Diplomatic Context

The council session comes amid ongoing efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Despite intermittent diplomatic activity, Russia has continued large-scale strikes against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, including heating systems, power stations, and residential areas. Diplomatic efforts involve multiple actors including the US, which has been pushing for talks while Russia maintains its military campaign at full intensity.