Russia, whose leader is accused of committing war crimes, gained control of the United Nations Security Council on Saturday, provoking outrage in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described the action as stupid and dangerous.

In February 2022, when Russia had the rotating chair of the body responsible for maintaining peace and opposing foreign aggression, Moscow began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"Unfortunately, we ... have some absurd and destructive news," Zelenskiy said in his daily video address, adding that a five-month-old boy was killed by Russian bombardment on Friday.

"At the same time, Russia is chairing the United Nations Security Council," he said. "It would be difficult to find a clearer indication of the total bankruptcy of such institutions."

The president rotates alphabetically among the 15 members each month. Even though the role is primarily procedural, the Kremlin and other Russian officials vowed to "exercise all its rights."

On Thursday, the United States encouraged Russia to "conduct itself professionally" when it assumed the role, stating there was no way to prevent Russia from assuming the position.

In March, the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is not affiliated with the United Nations, issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin and his commissioner for children's rights, accusing them of committing the war crime of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba referred to Russia's Security Council leadership as a "slap in the face to the international community." to the international community. Zelenskiy stated it was time to reorganise global institutions, including the Security Council thoroughly.

"Reform is necessary to prevent a terrorist state - and any other state that wants to be a terrorist - from destroying the peace," he said.

About 400 days into a conflict that has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people, the destruction of many Ukrainian cities, and the flight of millions of citizens, Russia continues to seize territory in the east of the country.

Earlier, Andriy Yermak, a Zelenskiy aide, criticized Iran, which Kyiv and its allies suspect of supplying Russia with armaments. Tehran denies providing Moscow with weapons.

"It is very telling that on the holiday of one terror state – Iran - another terror state – Russia – begins to preside over the U.N. Security Council," Yermak said on Twitter, referring to Iran's Islamic Republic Day.