Check against delivery

Statement by the Delegation of Ukraine at the 77th plenary meeting of the United Nations General Assembly under agenda item 31 (a) “Prevention of armed conflict” on the twelfth report of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 

(15 April 2026)

 

Madam President,

The delegation of Ukraine aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and wishes to make
the following remarks in its national capacity.

At the outset, Ukraine would like to express its sincere appreciation to the Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism, Mr. Robert Petit, and his dedicated team for their continued professional and impartial work in advancing accountability for the most serious crimes committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since 2011.

We welcome the twelfth report of the Mechanism and commend its sustained efforts to collect, preserve and analyze evidence. The Mechanism’s work is crucial in supporting national jurisdictions in their efforts to investigate and prosecute international crimes.

We note the evolving situation in Syria and the increased opportunities it has created for accountability. In this regard, the Mechanism’s expanded engagement and growing operational capacity are of particular importance.

Ukraine strongly reiterates that accountability for international crimes is not optional. It is a core requirement of international law and a necessary condition for
the comprehensive, just and lasting peace and justice for victims and survivors.

We further underline the importance of the Mechanism’s continued victim- and survivor‑centred approach, as well as its cooperation with national jurisdictions.

Distinguished colleagues,

Ensuring accountability also serves as a deterrent. It sends a clear and universal message: perpetrators of the most serious international crimes will be held accountable, regardless of where and when such crimes are committed.

This principle is more relevant than ever, as grave violations of international law persist — including those committed by the Russian Federation in its war of aggression against Ukraine. Strengthening accountability mechanisms such as the IIIM reinforces the global understanding that impunity cannot and will not prevail, while also ensuring justice for victims and helping to prevent the recurrence of such atrocities.

We also recall that Russian involvement in
the commission of the most serious international crimes, as well as other internationally wrongful acts committed in Syria and against its people, has been documented through multiple independent findings and reports by relevant international mechanisms. Ensuring accountability for such crimes remains an unfinished task of international justice, while
the persistence of impunity continues to fuel further atrocities, as clearly demonstrated by Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.

Against this backdrop, Russia’s well-documented history of the use of chemical weapons is particularly alarming – from the poisoning of Alexei Navalny and Sergei and Yulia Skripal to Russia’s support for the Assad regime’s chemical attacks against civilians.

Today, in Ukraine, Russia continues to deploy toxic chemicals and riot control agents as methods of warfare, in clear violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and international law. Ukraine regularly submits relevant evidence to the OPCW, and three OPCW reports have confirmed that such evidence was collected and transmitted in full compliance with chain-of-custody requirements and established procedures, underscoring the urgent need to ensure timely attribution of the confirmed use of riot control agents as a method of warfare.

In this regard, we must ensure the international responsibility of perpetrators, justice for victims and survivors in accordance with international law and non-repetition of such acts.

Ukraine reaffirms its strong support for the Mechanism and its mandate. Justice must prevail.

I thank you, Madam President.

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Credit: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe