Statement by 

Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Ms. Khrystyna Hayovyshyn

on introducing the draft resolution A/C.3/80/L.33/REV.1 “Situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol”

19 November 2025

Chair,

I have the honor to introduce draft resolution L.33/REV.1, “Situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.”  

Ukraine has presented this resolution annually since 2016, and we are deeply grateful to all Member States that continue to stand with us.

In the spirit of maintaining broad support and unity around our shared objective, my delegation would like to introduce an oral revision to the draft by removing the preambular paragraph 8.

The message of this resolution remains urgent and clear: the human rights situation in the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine is dire and continues to deteriorate. For more than a decade, Russia has turned these territories into zones of fear and repression. UN bodies and independent monitors consistently document the same pattern: widespread and systematic torture, summary executions, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, and inhumane treatment of civilian detainees and prisoners of war.

These violations are part of a deliberate strategy to silence Ukrainians and erase Ukrainian identity. Ukrainian cultural sites and libraries are destroyed, independent media is shut down, forced Russian passportization is imposed, and—most gravely—Ukrainian children are forcefully taken, indoctrinated, and stripped of their national and cultural identity.

Ukraine continues its daily efforts to protect its people and secure the release of those in captivity. This resolution strengthens those efforts and has already delivered real results — including the release of journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko earlier this year, whose case was reflected in previous resolutions, and whom some of you might have met here in the Committee few weeks ago.

Today, we again urge Russia to release all remaining detainees: civilians, prisoners of war, political prisoners, Crimean Tatars, and journalists.

Distinguished delegates,

Your support enables the UN to document these abuses. The importance of this work is obvious: in the temporarily occupied territories, simply publishing or even citing UN reports is harshly punished by the occupying authorities — because they fear the truth and the exposure of their crimes.

Today, more than ever, the Committee must send a clear message to the occupying power: the world is watching, the crimes are being recorded, and accountability is inevitable.

I sincerely thank all co-sponsors and urge all responsible Member States to vote YES on the draft as orally revised.

Thank you.