Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleaded with the U.N. Security Council to act against Russia, saying it was responsible for a "crime against humanity" as Ukraine continues to suffer relentless missile strikes against its energy infrastructure.
Millions of civilians in Ukraine are living without power, water or heat as Russia continues to pound the country's energy facilities as cold temperatures set in. Ten people died yesterday as a result of further shelling, one Ukrainian official said, with Zelenskyy saying Russia had fired 70 missiles at civilian infrastructure.
"When we have the temperature below zero, and further millions of people stay without energy supplies, without heating, without water, this is an obvious crime against humanity," he said.
An official said later that about 70% of the Kyiv region is without power after the Russian shelling.
Ukraine wanted to see "a very firm reaction" to Wednesday's airstrikes from the world, Zelenskyy added as he called upon the council to "make specific steps to protect humanity and life."
The U.S. Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told the council that such attacks on infrastructure are a "shameful escalation in Russia's already brutal, unjustifiable war."
The council has limited powers to act, however, as Russia is one of five permanent members with a veto over any resolutions.