UN chief condemns intensified Russia-Ukraine strikes, calls for immediate ceasefire: spokesman

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the recent wave of large-scale missile and drone attacks launched between Russia and Ukraine, urging all parties to urgently de-escalate and move toward peace, a UN spokesperson said Thursday.

"The Secretary-General strongly condemns the latest large-scale missile and drone attacks by the armed forces of the Russian Federation on Kiev and other cities in Ukraine, that reportedly killed and injured dozens of civilians, and led to extensive damage to civilian infrastructure. The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the continued escalation of the conflict, including onto the territory of the Russian Federation. In this regard, he also condemns the recent Ukrainian drone attacks on several regions of the Russian Federation, which reportedly resulted in civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure," said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Haq said Guterres stressed that attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure are a clear violation of international humanitarian law and must stop immediately.

"Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure are a clear violation of international humanitarian law and must stop immediately. The Secretary-General reiterates his call for urgent de-escalation, leading to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire and for a just, sustainable and comprehensive peace, in line with international law, including the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions," said the spokesman.

UN chief condemns intensified Russia-Ukraine strikes, calls for immediate ceasefire: spokesman

About 100 people died during a mass border crossing into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta last week, Ceuta President Juan Jesus Vivas told an extraordinary meeting of the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on Thursday.

Vivas said about 80,000 people entered Ceuta, nearly 75,000 of whom subsequently returned voluntarily.

Between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remain in the enclave, leaving reception centers overwhelmed and creating a severe humanitarian emergency, he said, calling for stronger security, more reception resources and greater support from EU agencies.

European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner described the influx which involved a number of people roughly equivalent to Ceuta's entire population as "incredible".

"Nothing on this scale has happened at any EU external border in 20 years, not in a single day," Brunner told the meeting, stressing that the EU could not accept such a breach of the integrity of its external borders or a violation of the security of the Union.

Brunner said the EU should use all the leverage at its disposal, including visa policy and, more broadly, trade and development aid, to secure Morocco's cooperation on migration.

100 deaths in mass border crossing into Spain's Ceuta: local leader