The UN Youth Delegate of Ukraine addressed the General Debate of the Third Committee

During the General Debate of the Third Committee of the United Nations, the UN Youth Delegate of Ukraine, Vitalina Shevchenko, delivered her statement.

In her remarks, she noted that she represents Ukraine not only as a Youth Delegate, but also as a woman working in the field of humanitarian mine action. She emphasised that, as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion, more than 136,000 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory affected by hostilities require survey for the presence of explosive ordnance — an area larger than several European countries combined. The problem of explosive ordnance contamination is not unique to Ukraine. It is a reality well known to many countries around the world. Children and young people are among those whose lives most directly depend on the pace of demining.

Vitalina highlighted that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, 1,332 Ukrainian civilians have been killed or injured by explosive ordnance.

She also drew attention to the global consequences of Russia’s aggression, particularly its impact on food security. Before the war, Ukraine provided food for around 400 million people worldwide, many of whom live in developing countries. Due to the reduction in wheat production in Ukraine, approximately 40 million fewer people fed each year.

Ukraine’s struggle for peace, safe land, and food stability is not only Ukraine’s struggle. It is a shared responsibility of the entire world — a responsibility to protect life, dignity, and humanity.

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UNGA80 Third Committee: General Debate Statement by Ukraine’s Youth Delegate 

Ms. Vitalina Shevchenko 

October 7 2025

Thank you, Madam Chair,  

I stand before you today as the UN Youth Delegate of Ukraine, but also a woman working in humanitarian mine action back home. I chose this path because I wanted to turn fear into purpose — to contribute to making our land safe again.

Over 136,000 square kilometres of Ukrainian land have been contaminated with explosive ordnance by Russia’s full-scale invasion — an area larger than a few European countries combined.

Explosive ordnance contamination is a reality that countries from Colombia to Syria, from Mozambique to Angola, and more than thirty others represented here know all too well. And it directly affects the lives of young people and children.

Since 2022, 1332 of Ukrainian civilians have been killed or injured by explosive ordnance. These are not statistics — they are fathers, mothers, children and humanitarian workers clearing the land to make it safe again.

I speak about this not as a distant observer. For Ukrainians, this is not a technical topic — if you live on contaminated land, one wrong step could be your last.

Let me show you what this really means. This is Ukrainian wheat, grown on land cleared after territories were liberated from Russia’s control. But this wheat carries a heavy price. Just three weeks ago, while I was in Chernihiv for youth consultations ahead of this very General Assembly, a targeted Russian air strike killed two humanitarian workers — people who were clearing the land so that fields could once again feed communities.

Moreover, because of this invasion, the world continues to face a pressing issue of food insecurity. Before the war, Ukraine produced enough food to feed 400 million people worldwide, much of it going to vulnerable countries. Today, Ukraine’s losses in wheat production alone mean 40 million fewer people fed each year. 40. MILLION. PEOPLE.

We are grateful to all those contributing to clearing our land. And call for continues support, for as long as it takes, because Ukraine is fighting for the freedom, independence, dignity, rule of law – for values dear to the majority of nations around the world.

Thank you.