The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on Tuesday urged continued international support for Ukraine's population as Russian airstrikes intensify and humanitarian needs grow in advance of another bitterly cold winter.
The "relentless" attacks are targeting critical energy infrastructure, leaving millions without heat and electricity, and limited access to water and other essentials.
"The increase in long-range missile and drone strikes means there is no safe place in Ukraine," said UNHCR director, Philippe Leclerc, adding that humanitarian operations have also come under attack.
Evacuations continue
Between September and mid-October, several security incidents affected agency personnel and partners, aid facilities or clearly marked vehicles involved in relief efforts.
UNHCR said displacement within Ukraine is expected to continue as evacuations from frontline areas increase, while nearly 5.2 million Ukrainian civilians continue to live across Europe as refugees.
UN nuclear watchdog still unable to verify Iran's nuclear material
The UN's nuclear watchdog still cannot confirm that none of Iran's safeguarded nuclear material has been diverted, its chief told the Security Council on Tuesday - more than a year after Israeli and US military strikes cut off inspectors' access.
"This can and must be rectified," said IAEA Director Genera Rafael Grossi, adding that we know from our past work with Iran that constructive engagement is possible."
Inspectors have not been able to return to the sites hit by Israeli airstrikes in June 2025 and joint Israeli and US attacks in early 2026.
The agency has seen no sign of work to repair or rebuild them, Mr. Grossi said, but satellite monitoring is no substitute for access on the ground.
The one exception is the Bushehr nuclear power plant, where inspectors are currently at work.
Iran's atomic energy agency has cooperated in delivering the safeguards equipment needed to verify spent fuel there before it is moved to dry storage, expected early next year, Mr. Grossi said.
Normal inspections on hold
Normal inspections have not resumed, and Iran has not provided the information and access needed to verify previously declared nuclear material at its safeguarded facilities - both those hit in the attacks and those that were not - the IAEA chief said.
Of particular concern is Iran's declared stock of 440kg of highly enriched uranium. The agency is also seeking access to the Isfahan Fuel Enrichment Plant, which Iran declared just before the June 2025 strikes.
"Only diplomacy, underpinned by IAEA verification, can prevent nuclear proliferation in the long term," Mr. Grossi said.
