Mr. President, distinguished members of the Security Council, Assistant Secretary-General Jenča 

I also recognize the continued occupation of the seat of the Soviet Union by a lonely sad junior staff member of the Russian mission. 

The beginning of the week was again marked by Russia’s intense and massive missile and drone strikes against Ukraine, primarily our critical energy infrastructure, industrial facilities and residential buildings.

On Monday, August 26, Russia launched at least 109 drones and 127 missiles of various types – cruise, ballistic and air-ballistic, on fifteen Ukrainian regions and on the capital city, Kyiv. The Defense Forces of Ukraine were able to intercept 102 missiles and 99 drones. 

Yesterday, August 27, Russia launched 81 drones and 10 missiles on 16 regions of Ukraine. Sixty drones and five missiles were shot down. We reiterate our gratitude to all allies that contribute to enhancing Ukraine’s air defense and thus saving the lives of people.

At the same time, the missiles and drones that were not intercepted caused severe damage and increased the number of casualties.

One of the victims was killed in their apartment in the city of Lutsk following a drone attack. Footage clearly shows that before the strike the drone sustained no external interference, it was not jammed or 

intercepted. It first reached an altitude of 100-150 meters, locked onto the target and began on its precise trajectory towards it.

Among the Russian targets hit on Monday was the Kyiv Hydroelectric Power Plant and its dam. By attacking this facility, Russians continue to dream of repeating what they managed to do in Kakhovka in June 2023. That is to destroy the dam and to flood the territories downstream along the Dnipro River. In this case, the capital of Ukraine and its outskirts – the most densely populated areas of Ukraine.

It speaks volumes that just a month ago, spokesperson of the Russian MFA made a statement about alleged “Ukrainian provocations” aimed at blowing up the dams of Kyiv and Kaniv HPPs. The only explanation they were able to invent was an absurd idea that Ukrainians were supposedly ready to flood their own capital just “to blame Russia”.

Let me note the same “announcements” were made by Russia before the explosion of the Kakhovka dam. In October 2022 Putin’s envoy himself circulated a letter regarding “the plans of the Kiev regime to destroy the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam… [by] launching sea mines downstream the Dnieper River or a massive missile strike.” 

Mr. President,

For over two years Ukraine has been withstanding the largest aerial terror in human history. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has launched over 9,600 missiles, nearly 14,000 attack drones and more than 33,000 guided aerial bombs. 

Just imagine this number of deadly weapons dropped on our homes, schools, hospitals, power stations. The costs of these attacks are difficult to calculate. On August 26 alone, Russia spent about USD 1.3 billion shelling Ukraine. 

This money might have been spent on improving the life of ordinary Russians. According to the UN, a quarter of them have never had access to centralized sewage systems.

However, we are speaking about Russia and its criminal regime. The regime that has plunged its country into a profound crisis. The elements of the Russian crisis include a complete disregard for human lives, both of its own citizens and those of other nationalities, a lack of humanity and morality, and growing inadequacy both internally and on the international stage.

That’s why Russia opts to spend its revenues on killing Ukrainians. Among the most recent appalling attacks was a strike on a supermarket in the center of Kostyantynivka, Donetsk region, on August 9. The Russian missile killed at least 14 civilians, including 3 children, and injured 44 others. 

On August 20, a Russian artillery shell struck a children's playground in the village of Malokaterynivka, Zaporizhzhia region, killing one child and injuring three other children.

On August 25 Russia deliberately targeted a hotel in the city of Kramatorsk, Donetsk region with an Iskander missile. A Reuters team, along with local residents and workers were among those who suffered from the strike. Unfortunately, a safety adviser from UK was killed and two journalists were injured, one of them seriously. 

These are just a few of Russia’s barbaric war crimes. All of them must be condemned and punished. 

Mr. President,

There is a clear distinction between the parties in this war. Russia attempts to annihilate Ukraine, which is why it targets residential buildings, stores and critical infrastructure. 

Ukraine wants to stop the violence and to diminish Russia’s capacity to attack. Therefore, we aim at legitimate military targets, including places of concentration of Russian troops and equipment, arms and fuel depots and logistics centers.

Recently Ukrainian forces attacked military airbases “Savasleyka” in Novgorod region, and “Marinovka” in Volgograd region. These attacks damaged or destroyed combat aircraft and weapons, including guided aerial missiles. 

We will continue to eliminate Russia’s combat potential, regardless of the threats putin’s representative makes here, and the fakes he spreads. Responding to him is a waste of our time and UN resources. He doesn’t influence the decision-making process in his country, his capital doesn’t take into account his reports, even if he ever reported the truth. 

Therefore, I would rather address members of the Security Council, who, despite tolerating the toxic presence of putin’s envoy in the Chamber, realize the scope of the threats to both international security and the credibility of the Council. 

We urge you, and all partners, to consider two specific decisions to help us put an end to Russian terror sooner. First, to acknowledge Ukraine's right to long-range strikes on all legitimate military targets throughout Russian territory. Second, to engage partners' air defense capabilities to shoot down missiles and drones close to their airspace. 

None of these steps are escalatory. On the contrary, they will deter Russia, reduce terror and the number of casualties.

At this moment, Russia has put everything on the line to advance in Donbas. All traditional methods are being used by Russian military commanders, including continuous "meat-grinder" assaults and complete destruction of settlements to a moon-like surface.

Currently, Russia is raising to the ground the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, aiming to advance on the ruins – with no residents and no intact buildings. This is what Russia calls "liberation of Donbas." Dozens of Donbas cities and villages have been completely destroyed and depopulated during this “liberation”. 

Ukraine will continue fighting against this current day barbarism, everywhere, including in the territory of Russia.

That’s why Ukraine couldn’t stand idly by observing Russia’s military buildup in Kursk region and its preparations for attack on Ukraine’s Sumy region, similar to the Russian offensive on Kharkiv from the Belgorod region this May.

Responding to this danger, Ukraine launched a defensive operation in designated areas of the Kursk region. Due to these preventive actions the immediate danger of occupation of Sumy has decreased. The dictator's confusion has been evidenced by the fact that he couldn't find the strength and courage to appear before the public for several days. 

Recently, an unpleasant truth was revealed about poorly equipped and inexperienced conscripts abandoned by their commanders and readily surrendered, and about the mass looting of local residents’ and businesses' property by Russian soldiers. 

In the past, Russians, infected by propaganda, dismissed similar videos of Russian looters filmed in Ukraine as fake. Now they are shocked by video footage from the Kursk region, where Russian soldiers were again stealing, this time from their own fellow citizens.

While carrying out the operation in the Kursk region, the Ukrainian Army strictly adheres to international humanitarian law. We also have no political plans regarding these areas that contradict the UN Charter. I would like to underline that the goal of the operation is strictly defensive.

At the same time, Ukraine establishes military administrations to ensure order and normal life for the local population. Ample video footage as well as reports by the international media give proof to the humane treatment by Ukrainian servicemen towards the local civilian population, as well as towards Russian prisoners of war.

The latter are safe in Ukrainian captivity and Ukraine is ready to ensure their swift exchange for Ukrainian POWs. Sunday’s exchange proves our resoluteness to bring all our soldiers and illegally detained civilians out of Russian captivity as soon as possible. 

Unlike the humane treatment of Russian POWs by Ukraine, our servicemen captured by Russia face cruelty and torture. Unfortunately, more crimes against Ukrainian prisoners of war have been recorded recently.

For instance, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine is investigating footage which appeared on August 17 and shows soldiers of Russia's 155th Naval Infantry Brigade with what appears to be a severed head of a Ukrainian serviceman put upon a spike in the background.

We are extremely concerned about the fate of Ukrainian servicemen in Russian prisons as they remain subject to ill-treatment and torture, leading to death. In July Ukrainian POW Oleksandr Ishchenko, former soldier of the 12th Special Forces Azov Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, was killed in Rostov detention facility in Russia. According to a forensic report, made in Ukraine, his death was caused by blunt force trauma to his chest, multiple rib fractures and shock. 

Torture in captivity, including with fatal outcomes, is a deliberate and sanctioned practice by the Russian side. As recently stated by Danielle Bell, the Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, in an interview with a Dutch television, “torture is regular and widespread, affecting over 95% of prisoners.” At the same time, she emphasized that the treatment of Russian POWs in Ukraine is entirely different and international access to them is ensured. 

We remain convinced that the Security Council should address the appalling situation with the ill-treatment and torture of Ukrainian POWs by Russia. We also reiterate the inadmissibility of Russia’s excluding Azov servicemen from prisoner exchanges and demand this shameful practice be stopped.

Mr. President,

Ukraine remains committed to the peace process, aimed at ceasing violence, hostilities and violations of international law. The comprehensive, just and lasting peace should and will be based on the principles of the UN Charter. This is the core of the Ukrainian Peace Formula, the implementation of which is well underway.

The expanded meeting of the Working Group on Energy Security took place on 22 August to discuss the contribution to the Peace framework to be presented at the Second Peace Summit. This Conference on Energy Security has opened a series of events aimed at implementing the agreements reached at the inaugural Peace Summit in Switzerland.

We encourage all peace-loving states to engage in the further process and contribute to the restoration of international law and the multilateral security architecture. 

I thank you.