Statement by the Delegation of Ukraine at the UN Security Council 

Open debate on the Protection of civilians in armed conflicts

delivered by Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine 

Khrystyna Hayovyshyn

(22 May 2024)

Mr. President,

My delegation is grateful to Mozambique and Switzerland for convening this important debate. Topic is of great importance to Ukraine as Ukrainian civilian population is hardly attacked by the Russian Federation daily.

We appreciate Secretary-General’s comprehensive report, outlining dire situation on the forefront of the protection of civilians around the globe and particularly in my country.

Civilians and their rights are among the first to be hit by any war. It is the case for Ukrainians, whom Russian Federation has made targets of its war of aggression. It is the case for people in other countries suffering from conflicts, including in the Middle East and Africa.

This year marks the 25^th anniversary of the Security Council’s consideration of the protection of civilians as an item on its agenda and marks the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions of 1949.

It is almost quarter century ago that the SC in its first thematic resolution 1265 (1999) underlined the need to put an end to deliberate targeting of civilians and emphasized the responsibility of States to end impunity and to prosecute those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and serious violations of international humanitarian law.

A year later, in 2000, Ukraine as the then elected Council’s member voted for another thematic Resolution 1296. By adopting this document, the Council reaffirmed its readiness to consider situations of deliberate targeting of civilian populations and other violations in situations of armed conflict, and to adopt appropriate steps.

After so many years, we continue to see a grim increase in civilian casualties due to conflicts. Council’s capacity to take efficient actions remains a goal rather than a reality.

 

Mr. President,

Russian Federation continues its war of terror against Ukrainian civilians, targeting critical civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, and residential areas with wide range of conventional arms, including missiles, aerial bombs and combat UAVs. This relentless onslaught has resulted in significant casualties and widespread destruction.

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Despite global condemnation and numerous appeals from Ukraine and the international community, Russian Federation persists in committing crimes of deportation and forced displacement of Ukrainian children.

Global support is crucial. We call to increase consolidated international pressure on Russia to stop its IHL violations, return all Ukrainian deportees, including children, POWs and civilian detainees.

It is one of the key priorities of the Peace Formula and would be one of the key topics of the upcoming Peace Summit in Switzerland in June this year.

Accountability and damage compensation for these crimes is what a just peace entails. Ukraine has developed a unique concept for an International Compensation Mechanism to address the damages to the civilian population caused by Russian aggression.

We will spare no efforts in supporting establishment of such mechanisms that will serve as a deterrent against future acts of aggression towards sovereign states.

Thank you.