Statement by the Delegation of Ukraine under cluster 2 “Other Weapons of Mass Destruction” of the First Committee of the 80^th session of the UN General Assembly

(22 October 2025)

 

Chair,

Ukraine aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union. We would also like to make additional remarks in our national capacity.

Ukraine highly values the crucial role of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in maintaining the global norm against the use of chemical weapons and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the goals and principles of the Сhemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

We note with appreciation the progress in cooperation between the Syrian authorities and the Secretariat, which has contributed to advancing efforts toward the complete elimination of chemical weapons in Syria.

Ukraine hopes that the ongoing efforts of the new Government of Syria to cooperate with the OPCW and to fulfill its obligations under the CWC will lead to the prompt identification and safe destruction of any remaining elements of the former regime’s chemical weapons program, in line with the objectives of the Convention.

Chair,

Ukraine has been continuously monitoring violations of the CWC by Russia and promptly notifying the Technical Secretariat and States Parties to the Convention about such violations. It includes almost 11,000 documented instances of the Russian military’s use of munitions containing hazardous chemicals, including chloropicrin, in direct violation of the Convention.

As a result of these crimes, 2,862 Ukrainian servicemen sought medical care for symptoms of chemical exposure, including acute poisoning by an unidentified toxic substance. The OPCW has confirmed Ukraine’s concerns about the use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian military personnel in three Technical Assistance Visits reports.

Ukraine emphasizes the importance of strengthening international attribution mechanisms to clearly identify those responsible for chemical weapons use. We welcome the work of the OPCW Technical Secretariat, and we commend our intense cooperation to ensure that perpetrators, organizers, and sponsors of such crimes are identified and held accountable.

We would like to stress that it is intolerable that the Russian Federation continues holding positions within the OPCW’s decision-making bodies while perpetrating such violations. We call on all States Parties to oppose the Russian Federation’s candidacy for the Executive Council for the upcoming term.

For Ukraine, contribution to smooth and consensus-based decision-making of the Executive Council and the OPCW is essential. We actively and fully cooperate with the OPCW to eliminate the threat of chemical weapons and uphold international norms. In this regard, Ukraine would like to call the States Parties for the support of its candidacy for the Executive Council in the 2026–2028 term.

Since 1975, Ukraine has been a Party to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and fully complies with its provisions. All Ukrainian scientific and medical institutions operate solely for peaceful purposes, including public health, veterinary safety, and scientific research.

We regularly submit reports to the BTWC Implementation Support Unit and actively support the development of international cooperation and measures to enhance transparency, including the exchange of scientific knowledge, equipment, and materials, as well as biosecurity education programs.

At the same time, the Russian Federation systematically violates the BTWC. Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine has led to the destruction of essential medical and biological infrastructure, illegal seizure of Ukrainian laboratories, and threats to biosafety.

Russia also spreads disinformation regarding alleged Ukrainian biological weapons programs, aiming to discredit Ukraine and divert international attention from its own barbaric acts.

Therefore, Ukraine remains steadfast in its full compliance with the BTWC, while Russia’s actions seriously undermine trust in it and pose a threat to global biosecurity.

Thank you.