Britain has accused Russia of intensifying its assault on Ukraine even as Moscow claims to seek peace, citing three days of strikes that killed dozens of civilians and targeted critical infrastructure across the country.
Ambassador Sarah MacIntosh, the UK’s permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council that Russia’s actions contradict any suggestion it wants to end the conflict, according to a statement published by the British government.
The session came two weeks after world leaders gathered at the General Assembly calling for de-escalation. Instead, MacIntosh said, Russian attacks have grown more severe.
On Wednesday, a Russian glide bomb killed at least 33 civilians travelling on a bus in Kramatorsk. The day before, airstrikes claimed the lives of 30 people, including 22 – among them five children – when a cruise missile destroyed a residential building in Chernihiv. On Tuesday, two Ukrainian Red Cross workers were injured whilst helping victims of a Russian attack in the Zaporizhzhia region.
“These are 3 days of the 1,688 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion,” MacIntosh told the Council, emphasising that the pattern of civilian casualties has continued relentlessly.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband visited Chernihiv on Wednesday, where he described witnessing Russia’s “barbaric war of terror on the Ukrainian people”.
Infrastructure under sustained bombardment
The UK diplomat said Russian forces are systematically targeting civilian infrastructure. Hundreds of drones and missiles strike Ukraine’s electricity and heating systems daily, whilst drones have hit civilian bridges in central Kyiv in broad daylight this week. Attacks on Black Sea ports and merchant shipping threaten global food supplies, she added.
Thousands of civilians are reportedly trapped in Russian-occupied Oleshky without adequate food, water or medical care. Even the Kremlin has described the situation there as “critical”, according to MacIntosh.
She pointed to a social media post by Russia’s Ministry of Defence stating that Ukrainians would “freeze” this winter, and the Kremlin’s description of Ukraine’s energy system as an “Achilles heel” when rejecting proposals for an energy ceasefire.
“Directly targeting civilian infrastructure may constitute a war crime,” MacIntosh said, calling on Russia to follow its obligations under international humanitarian law. An occupying power must ensure access to adequate food, medical supplies and healthcare, and where it cannot, must allow rapid passage of humanitarian relief, she noted.
UK announces fresh sanctions
The ambassador warned that Russia is attempting to normalise the unacceptable. “Nearly five years on from the initial invasion, Russia is seeking to make the unacceptable appear routine,” she said. “But the frequency of Russia’s attacks cannot be allowed to dull our sense of urgency.”
Britain announced 38 new sanctions designations this week targeting those supplying Russia’s military with critical goods, according to the statement. MacIntosh pressed Russia to accept an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
She highlighted that President Zelenskyy has repeatedly signalled Ukraine’s willingness to accept a ceasefire, whilst President Putin has refused and instead escalated attacks. “These actions speak louder than any claims to want peace,” the ambassador said.
Foreign Secretary Miliband reiterated Britain’s position from Kyiv on Wednesday, stating that the UK stands with the people of Ukraine and will not relent on support until Russia chooses peace.
What this means for Poles in the UK
The statement reflects Britain’s ongoing commitment to supporting Ukraine, which has direct implications for the large Ukrainian community in the UK and for Polish residents who maintain close ties to the region. The British government continues to operate humanitarian visa schemes for Ukrainians fleeing the war, and Polish communities across the UK have been active in supporting Ukrainian refugees through local charities and volunteer networks.
The fresh round of sanctions may affect businesses trading with Russia or entities on the sanctions list. Anyone working in sectors such as shipping, logistics or finance should check the government’s consolidated sanctions list on GOV.UK to ensure compliance. Breaching UK sanctions is a criminal offence and can result in substantial fines or imprisonment.
For Poles with family or business interests in Ukraine, the escalating bombardment of civilian infrastructure and continued targeting of cities underlines the ongoing dangers. The Foreign Office continues to advise against all travel to Ukraine. Those with relatives in affected areas can seek consular assistance through the British embassy in Warsaw or Kyiv, or the Polish consular network.
