evidence: UN denies it asked staff to avoid describing Russia action in Ukraine as war, invasion by Maureen Breslin - 03/08/22 1:07 PM ET by Maureen Breslin - 03/08/22 1:07 PM ET The United Nations (U.N.) is denying that it asked employees to avoid using the words "invasion" and "war" to describe Russia’s military action in Ukraine. [...] That email offered guidance on "some specific examples of language to use/not use at the moment." It said that employees should use the words conflict or military offensive and not war or invasion when referring to the situation in Ukraine.