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UNGA Statement (before the vote) by Permanent Representative of Ukraine H.E. Mr. Sergíy Kyslytsya on the consideration of the report of the Third Committee under agenda item 71 (c) “Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives” (17 December 2024)

Mr. President,

"They don’t care whether you’re a soldier or a civilian—what matters is that you’re Ukrainian, which means, in their eyes, you deserve to die." This is a quote from a resident of Rubizhne, who shared her harrowing experiences of living under Russian occupation. While she and her family were fortunate to escape to Ukrainian-controlled territory, her testimony reflects the grim reality faced by millions of Ukrainians in areas under Russian control.

This is not an isolated story. It is part of a well-documented and deliberate policy by Russia to terrorize and dehumanize Ukrainians. Let me cite another example: a brochure titled “Practical Recommendations to the Participant in Combat Actions” published on December 12, 2022, on the official website of the Russian Ministry of Defence under the heading “Who Are Ukrainians?” It reads: “[…] Someday, … they [Ukrainians] will become Russians again. But for now, they are enemies—cruel and treacherous. This means that we need to beat them until they put their hands up, without stopping, until our victory”.

I share these quotes to highlight the atmosphere of fear, repression, and lawlessness imposed on Ukrainians under Russian occupation. Since 2014, the temporarily occupied territories have become zones of impunity, where gross human rights violations and war crimes are systematic and pervasive.

It is important to note that, unlike previous conflicts, Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine is one of the most thoroughly documented in history. This extensive documentation will undoubtedly support the pursuit of justice and ensure that all perpetrators are held accountable. I therefore urge all alleged war criminals not to place false hope in evading responsibility, but to actively cooperate with investigations and provide their testimonies.

Numerous credible reports from the United Nations, including the International Commission of Inquiry, and findings from other international monitors document Russia's widespread and deliberate perpetration of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and gross human rights violations and abuses. These include summary executions, enforced disappearances, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, and inhumane treatment of civilian detainees and prisoners of war.

These atrocities are not random acts of violence, but part of a calculated and systematic policy aimed at erasing Ukrainian identity—obliterating cultural and historical markers while forcibly indoctrinating those who remain. To this aim, Ukrainian libraries are destroyed, independent Ukrainian media is banned and silenced, Russian passports are forcibly imposed, and most disturbingly, Ukrainian children are subjected to Russian education designed to erase their identity.

Those dare to oppose face arbitrary detention, torture, extrajudicial executions, and the additional threat of having their children taken away or deported to Russia.

To address this, my delegation has presented the draft resolution entitled “Situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol” (contained in the document L.44). This resolution aims to maintain the General Assembly’s and the UN's focused attention on the dire human rights situation and provide essential protection for those affected, particularly the thousands of Ukrainian children forcibly deported or displaced by Russia. It calls on the Russian Federation to immediately and unconditionally return all Ukrainian children, including those unlawfully adopted or placed in foster care. Ukraine and its partners will continue to fight for the safe return of every child.

Mr. President,

Ukraine uses every available means to protect its people and secure their release from Russian captivity, and this resolution remains a powerful tool with tangible impact: for example, Nariman Dzhelyal, the First Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis, whose plight was highlighted in previous resolutions, was released from Russian detention in June this year.

The politically motivated persecution of Crimean Tatars—the largest Muslim community and Indigenous people of Ukraine—underscores Russia’s blatant disregard for international law. The draft resolution demands the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees, including prisoners of war, civilians, political prisoners, and Crimean Tatars.

Mr. President,

The forced imposition of Russia's legal system in the temporarily occupied territories is null and void under international law. 

The resolution serves as a practical tool for the UN for ongoing monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in the temporarily occupied territory, providing a crucial mechanism for accountability.

The only way to guarantee full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for the residents of these territories is their de-occupation from Russia. Restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders is not only a matter of justice for Ukrainians but also essential for European and global security.

In the meantime, I call upon the General Assembly, as the most representative principal UN body, to send a strong and clear message to the aggressor-state and the occupying power that the international community closely monitors the situation and will not tolerate its crimes and atrocities.

I extend my gratitude to all 49 Member States that have co-sponsored the draft and call upon all responsible Member States to stand with Ukraine by voting YES for the draft resolution L.44!

Thank you.