UNICEF chief calls on UN Security Council to take action to protect children in Ukraine

She made the statement at a meeting of the UN Security Council, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We again call for the support of Members of this Security Council, and the parties to this conflict to take immediate steps to protect children caught in this nightmare," Russell said.

She recalled that the UN had verified that at least 2,406 children have been killed or injured since February 2022 –an average of two children every day. At the same time, the true figure is far higher, Russell added.

According to her, the UN verified more child casualties during the first nine months of 2024 than it did during all of 2023.

Read also: Zelensky: Yale University researchers identified hundreds of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia

Nearly 3.6 million pele are displaced inside Ukraine, and almost twice as many – 6.7 million pele – have become refugees.

"In Ukraine, the war is upending the lives of children. It has forced many families and children to a life underground because of the continual risk of attacks," Russell said.

She noted that children spend up to six hours every day sheltering in basements and other damp, dark spaces under blaring air raid sirens, fearing for their lives.

The situation has been made worse by attacks on energy infrastructure, the UNICEF chief said.

"The impact of war is taking a terrible tl on children's mental health and robbing them of their childhood. […] With every passing day of war, more and more children will suffer, while facing the risk of life-long mental health consequences," she said.

Russell said that this year, UNICEF and partners have supported access to drinking water for 5.1 million pele in Ukraine and provided mental health and psycho-social support services to more than 630,000 children, adescents and caregivers. In 2024, the UN supported the access of more than 450,000 children to education.

Likely addressing the Russian Federation, Russell urged parties to "refrain from taking any actions that would alter a child's nationality or make it more difficult for them to be reunified."

"The United Nations and partners should have safe and unfettered humanitarian access to all children and families in Ukraine who need aid or protection services, including in non-government-contrled areas," she added.

Russell never used the words "Russia" or "Russian" in her speech.