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Statement  

by H.E. Mr. Oleksandr Karasevych

State Secretary  of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 

at the United Nations Security Council High-Level Open Debate  

“Emerging Technologies and Maritime Security: Implications for Peace and Security” 

(29 October 2026) 

Mr. President,  

Let me thank you and the Greek Presidency for organizing today’s important debate. We are also grateful to the briefers for their valuable insights. 

Emerging technologies are rapidly transforming the maritime domain. They offer new opportunities to strengthen maritime security, but they can also create new threats when used irresponsibly or as instruments of aggression. These challenges are particularly evident in the Black Sea. 

Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine has demonstrated how modern weapons and unmanned systems can undermine maritime security. Russia continues to deliberately attack Ukraine’s port infrastructure and commercial shipping in the Black Sea with missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and uncrewed maritime systems, threatening civilian crews and port workers and disrupting the movement of goods.  Since the beginning of Russia’s fullscale invasion, over 1,600 Ukrainian port infrastructure facilities have been damaged or partially destroyed, more than 260 civilian vessels damaged, and over 330 civilians affected. Attacks on vessels have intensified dramatically: 25 attacks were recorded throughout 2025, compared with over 95 attacks in June–September 2026 alone.

Ukraine’s maritime exports are essential to global food security. Disruptions to these exports threaten food supplies for up to 400 million people worldwide and risk driving up food prices, with particularly severe consequences for the most vulnerable populations. Protecting Ukraine’s maritime export routes is therefore not only a matter of regional security, but also a matter of global food security and economic stability.

Mr. President, 

Emerging technologies are also exploited to conceal illicit maritime activities. Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” uses deceptive shipping practices, including the manipulation or disabling of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) and the transmission of false vessel position data, to conceal vessel movements and obscure the origin and destination of shipments. 

These vessels are used for the illegal transport of Russian oil and petroleum products, while other vessels facilitate the illegal export of stolen Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine, allowing Russia to profit from its aggression. Such activities undermine sanctions enforcement, compromise maritime transparency and pose additional risks to maritime safety and the marine environment. 

The international community should take concrete and coordinated steps to address these threats. 

First, we call for the imposition, maintenance and strengthening of targeted sanctions against individuals, entities and vessels engaged in illegal maritime activities, including the circumvention of sanctions relating to Russian oil and petroleum products and the illegal export of stolen Ukrainian grain from the territory of Ukraine temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation. 

Second, we urge coordinated international monitoring, information-sharing and enforcement efforts to protect freedom and safety of navigation and prevent the concealment of illicit shipping activities. 

Third, the Russian Federation must be held accountable for its attacks against civilian vessels and port infrastructure, as well as for the environmental damage caused by its war of aggression against Ukraine. 

At the same time, artificial intelligence, satellite imagery and advanced surveillance technologies can improve maritime domain awareness, facilitate early warning and strengthen the protection of vessels, ports and seafarers. Their use must be accompanied by appropriate safeguards and effective human oversight. 

The development and use of emerging technologies at sea must also comply with international law, including the UN Charter and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. In situations of armed conflict, applicable international humanitarian law must also be fully respected. Technological advances do not diminish the responsibility of States for their conduct. 

Ukraine remains committed to upholding international law, strengthening maritime security and promoting the responsible development and use of emerging technologies at sea. We call for stronger international cooperation to protect maritime infrastructure, safeguard seafarers and ensure that technological progress strengthens international peace and security.

I thank you.