As delivered by the Ukrainian Delegation, to the 1471st meeting of the Permanent Council on 02 May 2024
Madam Chairperson,
At the outset, I want to thank the Chairpersonship for providing Ukraine with an opportunity to brief the OSCE participating States about russia’s attacks on critical energy infrastructure at the first EEF Preparatory meeting.
Saturday’s attack, when russia again fired 34 missiles and damaged four thermo-power plants, is a stark reminder that the OSCE should continue to serve as a platform for holding russia to account. On its part, the UN confirms that since the 22nd of March russia has struck at least 20 facilities.
At the same time, russia’s participation in the EFF meeting has demonstrated that it remains focused on misusing the OSCE to create an alternative reality and distract our attention from its crimes.
Therefore, I would like to correct the record about what was said by russia.
We heard nice words about russia’s climate doctrine and decreasing greenhouse gas emission.
But what the russian representative forgot to mention are some preliminary results of russia’s war against Ukraine. Just a few of them:
This is how russia fails on its climate obligations and commitments.
Furthermore, the 38th anniversary of the Chornobyl catastrophe reminds us how dangerous could be moscow’s experiments with nuclear power plants.
This once again highlights that russia’s illegal presence at the ZNPP must be reversed as soon as possible.
Russia also tries to present itself as an advanced user of modern technologies in agriculture.
Should the russian delegation clarify how equipment stolen from the Ukrainian farmers in the temporarily occupied territories contributes to this goal?
It was also interesting to hear about the efficiency of russia’s domestic technologies of digital transformation.
So, did the russian representative mean GPS jamming causing serious challenges for civil aviation in the Baltic region?
How this contributes to connectivity in the OSCE region? Isn’t it a direct threat to human security?
At the same time, according to OHCHR’s report, in the occupied territories of Ukraine, among the first things russia does is interrupting or shutting down Ukrainian internet, mobile networks, television and radio.
Residents are blocked from accessing social media such as Facebook and Twitter, and the Google search engine.
As a result, contacts between families and friends are lost. It’s a digital ghetto, isn’t it?
On the other hand, by sending hundreds of thousands of its young men to the war, is it how russia plans to improve its human capital?
Or let’s consider the situation in the Black and Caspian seas.
While the OSCE is focused on promoting green and sustainable connectivity practices for seaports in these regions, russia is preoccupied with the use of the Caspian area from time to time to launch missiles aiming, among other targets, at Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.
The kremlin’s envoy tried to blame all but russia for interrupting logistic routes.
But as a result of russia’s war, only port infrastructure in the Odesa region endured more than 30 missile attacks.
He also said nothing about a new pattern of attacks on Ukraine’s railway system.
As stated by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, “Attacks on the railway system threaten a key mode of transportation that people in Ukraine depend on for personal travel and transport of essential goods, particularly given the restriction on all air traffic and limited access to seaports”.
According to the Mission, “during the past weeks, attacks on railway facilities across Ukraine killed at least 11 civilians and wounded dozens in several regions of Ukraine, including Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Donetsk and Cherkasy”.
Even just these very few examples clearly demonstrate the level of russia’s disinformation and propaganda.
We must not allow russia's disinformation campaign to succeed.
In particular, the OSCE has to continue having very targeted discussions focused on concrete challenges stemming from russia’s aggressive policy.
Because russia’s actions against Ukraine are completely inconsistent with the principles guiding state’s participation in the OSCE.
Esteemed colleagues,
The Moscow Mechanism report on deported children presented just a year ago serves as a stark reminder of the necessity to redouble our efforts in this sphere.
A year after, its recommendations remain highly relevant, as new challenges appear.
In particular, it is deeply concerning that the so-called “military-patriotic movements” play a significant role in russia’s attempts to indoctrinate children.
This affects both – deported children and those who still remain in the occupied territories.
Furthermore, according to UNICEF, “The verified number of children killed in attacks across Ukraine has increased by nearly 40 per cent this year compared to last”.
The youngest russia’s victim was just two months old.
In view of this, Monday’s attack on Odesa by a missile with cluster munition has demonstrated that russia intends to kill as many civilians as possible.
As a result, five people were killed and over 30 injured, including two children and a pregnant woman.
As stated by UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, “Every attack sets back recovery and rebuilding efforts, prolonging the deterioration in children’s quality of life […] Attacks across the country continue, destroying schools, health facilities and residential buildings”.
This is why we will continue calling for relevant public reaction by the OSCE and condemnation of each and every russia’s missile attack.
Furthermore, given the scope of crimes committed by russia, Ukraine will further explore every possible avenue to hold russia to account.
In particular, we are grateful to all participating States who supported a recent decision by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers on the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine.
As Minister Kuleba stated, “This is an important practical step towards putting the tribunal into action. Each such step brings us closer to proving that justice for the crime of aggression against Ukraine is inevitable […] This is critical not only for all Ukrainians who have suffered as a result of the Russian aggression, but also for all nations seeking to live in a peaceful and secure world”.
Also, last week the Ukrainian Parliament ratified the Ad hoc Agreement between Ukraine and the OPCW Technical Secretariat on Privileges and Immunities for Technical Assistance Visits.
This brings us closer to holding moscow accountable for the use of dangerous toxic chemicals against Ukrainian defenders.
Since 2023, at least, 1908 such cases, violating the Chemical Weapons Convention, have been recorded.
Ukraine looks forward to cooperation with the OPCW experts on this matter.
And last but not least, we are grateful to all those, in particular Switzerland as a host, who already are helping organize a Peace Global Summit. We kindly invite all participating States to attend the Summit at the highest level.
As confirmed by President Zelenskyy, “russia not only wants to disrupt the Peace Summit, but also has a specific plan – how to do it”.
However, such existing plans is a signal that the Peace Formula really works.
Because russia understands that whatever differences between countries, however, they share the same view that there is no place for a war of aggression in the modern world.
And this global unity around the norms of international law, the UN Charter, and the Helsinki Decalogue is capable of forcing russia into peace.
We can demonstrate this. In June. In Switzerland.
Colleagues, on my final note, let me also express gratitude to the Latvian delegation and Ambassador Katrina Kaktina for hosting the “Letters to a Free Crimea” initiative, as well as to all diplomats who joined the event.
It is a powerful message to people in the occupation that none of them is either abandoned or forgotten.
I thank you, Madam Chairperson.