Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Assistant Secretary-General Jenča and Director Wosornu for highlighting the devastation that is being wrought because of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Madam President. Russia’s war against Ukraine rages for a third year, and Putin continues to unleash horrors onto the people of Ukraine. No amount of denials, lies, and propaganda can erase the sheer amount of evidence and documentation of the death, destruction, and atrocities left in Russia’s wake.
Overnight, Russia launched what some have termed one of the worst attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Initial reports indicate power outages across the country due to the overnight attacks. Reports indicate that the Trypillia Thermal Power Plant near Kyiv was destroyed.
On March 26, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine published a report with new findings regarding the systematic torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russian captivity and an increase in credible allegations of executions.
It is worth recalling that between December 2023 and February 2024, the Mission recorded credible allegations of at least 32 executions of Ukrainian POWs in 12 separate incidents. The true number may well be much higher.
Nearly all survivors interviewed described unimaginable and unrelenting torture during their captivity. Repeated beatings. Electric shocks. Threats of execution. Prolonged stress positions. Mock executions.
More than 50 percent recounted being subjected to sexual violence, as well as deprivation of adequate food, water, and medical attention.
And while Russia will trot out flimsy fabrications to justify attacking civilian infrastructure or deny the truth, the report also found that Russia’s intensification of attacks against Ukraine in late December and January contributed to a spike in civilian casualties in areas far from the frontline. It is impossible to ignore that the Mission verified a dozen medical facilities and close to 30 educational facilities destroyed or damaged by Russia’s reckless attacks against Ukraine in March alone.
I’m sure we are all also familiar with the March 15 report from the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine which documented similar allegations, noting that Russia’s disregard for its international law obligations had led to mounting civilian suffering. New evidence strengthened the Commission’s previous findings of widespread and systematic torture against civilians by Russian authorities in Ukraine.
Colleagues, it is time to recognize that without holding Russia to account for its actions, there will not be peace. We are not only witnessing a war of aggression and conquest. We are witnessing a callous and well-documented assault on international law and the tenets of common humanity.
Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since March 22 targeting its power generation facilities in addition to its electricity grid. These attacks escalate the risk of humanitarian crisis in cities like Kharkiv.
While the Kremlin attacks energy and agricultural infrastructure attempting to destroy grain and food products and plunge the country into darkness Ukraine remains resilient. Ukraine continues its efforts to feed world’s most vulnerable through programs like Grain from Ukraine through which Ukrainian grain has been delivered via World Food Program places such as Ethiopia Somalia Yemen Nigeria Sudan Kenya Ukrainian grain is also destined for Gaza
While Ukraine seeks just lasting resolution war while also supporting international community faces Kremlin consistently chooses war escalation
Russia brazenly procures ballistic missiles other munitions DPRK violation UN Security Council resolutions Fearing mounting body evidence against Russia Kremlin chose obstruct work this Council utilizing veto
By vetoing resolution extend mandate panel experts responsible monitoring North Korea's turn violations UN sanctions showed does care about international peace security only cares about itself reducing number independent reports showcasing Putin's destructive policies actions
Madam President The path forward clear must cease aggression immediately fully withdraw from territory within internationally recognized borders
Thank you Madam President