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Statement by the Delegation of Ukraine on the R2P and the prevention of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity

11 July 2024

Mr. President,

Ukraine aligns itself with the Statement delivered by the European Union and would like to make few remarks in our national capacity.

We reaffirm Ukraine’s commitment to the World Summit Outcome Document and the protection of all populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

Ukraine is a party to the core instruments of international law relating to prevention of atrocity crimes, protection of populations, upholding human rights and elimination of all forms of discrimination. And Ukraine is now at the forefront protecting its own people on the ground.

Mr. President,

The principles of the R2P reject the use of military force by one state against another under the pretence of protecting a population from alleged threats, especially when the actual goal is to occupy another state's territory. Military force should not be employed to alter borders or occupy territories.

However, Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, using a false pretext of protecting its population from genocide. Since the beginning of full-scale invasion, the UN's official information indicates that the number of civilian casualties in Ukraine has reached almost 33,000 although the actual number of victims is likely much higher. Ukrainian Prosecutors registered more than 111 000 crimes related to the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

Despite these losses, Ukraine is actively resisting the aggressor.

Almost daily, Russia continues its policy of terrorizing civilians in Ukraine by targeting critical infrastructure and residential areas with missiles, guided aerial bombs, and attack drones, resulting in significant casualties and widespread destruction.

Only the 8^th of July Russia’s mass attack deliberately targeted one of the most vulnerable and defenseless groups in any society – children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

Almost one hundred civilian sites were savagely attacked: medical and educational facilities, residential buildings, business-centers, and industries. In Kyiv, the list of targets includes the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital – the largest medical center treating young patients with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, where over 30 people were injured, including 8 children and two persons killed; a maternity hospital, where 9 people were killed; and a residential building, where the Russians killed 7 residents, including 4 children.

The actions of the Russian forces in Ukraine clearly demonstrate that their objective in invading Ukraine is the annihilation of Ukrainians as a nation. The Ukrainian children who Russia cannot abduct and brainwash, Russia kills. While we speak Russia is actively pursuing the genocide of the Ukrainian people.

Mr. President,

We have consistently emphasized the United Nations' crucial role in the prevention of atrocity crimes, particularly regarding Pillars II and III of the R2P.

The Security Council holds a special responsibility in this regard. However, at the onset of the invasion, Russia misused its veto power to obstruct the Council from fulfilling its primary responsibility and to respond promptly to protect civilians in Ukraine.

As a result, the General Assembly took on the responsibility and fulfilled its role by adopting six resolutions during the 11th Emergency Special Session.

To effectively curb aggression, it is imperative to pursue comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with the UN Charter and hold Russia’s military and political leaders accountable for their crimes.

In this regard Ukraine commends issuing by the International Criminal Court of arrest warrants for the President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and its Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova in March 2023, as well as arrest warrants for the Minister of offence Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov of 24 June this year for committing war crimes against Ukraine.

But despite arrest warrants, the responsibility for the mother of all war crimes, the Crime of aggression is still to be secured and we call the international community to work tirelessly with Ukraine on the creation of a Special Tribunal to hold accountable responsible for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

This is not only about saving Ukrainian lives. It is also about averting potential global catastrophes and preventing further genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity everywhere, where the Russian army has been abusing R2P principles – in Ukraine, in Georgia, or elsewhere in the world.

To conclude, two days ago, after Russia bombed a children's hospital in Kyiv and killed and wounded hundreds of civilians across Ukraine, a representative of Putin’s regime displayed his QR code. He also openly declared at a Security Council meeting that Russia will persist in its coercive tactics against Ukraine using military force, meaning they will continue the annihilation of Ukrainians as a nation.

I want to present the correct QR code to access a set of photographic evidence documenting this heinous crime. I also urge you to help save the lives of hundreds of children who are in urgent need of medical treatment.

Thank you.