Russian war crimes, UN’s role in the war and life under fire. With: UN’s Matthias Schmale

Matthias Schmale, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, joins Ukrainapodden for a deep dive into the humanitarian and political complexities of the ongoing war. As Ukraine is in the middle of a brutal winter, Schmale explains the massive logistical effort required to support a population facing systematic attacks on its energy grid. With over 19 UN agencies active on the ground, the mission has moved beyond traditional aid to focus on early recovery and the documentation of human rights violations. A central theme of the discussion is the role of the United Nations in a world where a permanent member of the Security Council is the aggressor. Schmale offers a peer-level, grounded perspective on why the UN currently lacks the leverage to enforce peace and what a potential reform of the institution might look like. He discusses the concept of "principled pragmatism"—the difficult balance of maintaining neutrality to ensure aid delivery while calling out clear violations of international law, such as the forced "Russification" of citizens in occupied territories. Listeners will also get a personal glimpse into life in Kyiv, a city Schmale describes as a mix of "heaven and hell," where modern city life is abruptly interrupted by air raid sirens and the constant threat of missile strikes. From the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam to the targeting of UN convoys, this episode provides essential context for anyone interested in geopolitical analysis, international law, and the human cost of the conflict.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.