Mr Chairperson,

Ukraine is grateful to the Swiss OSCE Chairpersonship for convening this special meeting of the Permanent Council in response to Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.

It is essential that the OSCE continues to closely monitor Russia’s violations of international law. This meeting, alongside the efforts of numerous other international organisations, represents a clear response to Moscow’s latest escalation.

On the night of 8–9 January 2026, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation launched a massive combined attack against Ukraine, with Kyiv and the Lviv region among the targeted areas.

According to the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in a single strike Russia deployed 242 unmanned aerial vehicles of various types, 22 cruise missiles, 13 ballistic missiles, and, for the second time in course of this war, one “Oreshnik” intermediate-range ballistic missile that was launched from Russian territory.

As a result of this grave attack, civilian casualties were recorded in Kyiv, including both fatalities and injuries. Four people were killed and 25 injured, including a paramedic who was rushing to provide emergency medical assistance.

Moreover, significant damage was inflicted on residential buildings and critical civilian infrastructure, causing serious disruption to essential services during the winter period. Energy facilities and numerous apartment blocks were damaged, leaving nearly half of the city and hundreds of thousands of residents without heating.

 

Esteemed colleagues,

The horrific strike of 8–9 January is not an isolated incident of Russian terror. Over the past week, Russian forces have continued targeting critical infrastructure and civilian facilities across Ukraine, demonstrating a clear intent to provoke a humanitarian catastrophe during winter.

Russia’s strikes on energy infrastructure essential for the functioning of nuclear facilities further underscore this intent.

Close examination of these attacks unmistakably shows that the aggressor state deliberately targets energy infrastructure during the coldest days, when electricity and heating are a matter of survival.

This is nothing less than cynical, life-denying terror. Russia’s political and military leadership does not even attempt to conceal these intentions, openly reporting on such strikes.

This abhorrent strategy has not gone unnoticed by the international community. At the UN Security Council meeting on 12 January, Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo emphasised that Russia’s strikes “follow a well-established and deeply troubling pattern: attacks escalate when weather conditions worsen and people’s need for heating becomes most acute.”

Already this week, on Monday, Russian forces employed over 300 drones, 18 ballistic missiles, and 7 cruise missiles, targeting energy infrastructure in an attempt to deprive civilians of electricity, water, and heating.

In the Kyiv region alone, hundreds of thousands of people were left without power and heat.

In the Kharkiv region, four people were killed in a strike on an ordinary civilian postal terminal, with many more injured across the country.

The consequences of this terror campaign are devastating. Civilian casualties continue to rise. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has verified nearly 15,000 civilian deaths, including 763 children, and more than 40,600 injured, including 2,486 children.

According to UN estimates, civilian casualties in Ukraine in 2025 exceeded 2,500 killed and 12,000 injured, representing a 31% increase compared to 2024 and a 70% increase compared to 2023.

It must be stressed that these figures reflect only cases that were independently verified by the UN monitors. The real number of victims is likely significantly higher, as ongoing hostilities and Russia’s complete rejection of any ceasefire prevent proper humanitarian access to many areas of Ukraine. Regrettably, the scale and intensity of strikes already carried out this year give serious grounds to believe that this alarming trend will continue.

 

Mr Chairperson,

Russia’s provocative actions clearly demonstrate that Moscow has no interest in peace. While claiming readiness for negotiations, Russia continues to strike civilians and launch nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missiles against critical infrastructure near EU and NATO borders.

This constitutes a dangerous escalation of Russia’s war of aggression and poses an additional threat to European security. It is particularly telling that Russia’s deadly strikes and disinformation campaigns are implemented against the backdrop of intensified diplomatic efforts involving Ukraine, the United States, as well as European and American partners.

For its side, Ukraine remains genuinely committed to a peaceful resolution and continues to demonstrate openness to all sincere initiatives aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace. In contrast, the Kremlin persists in its maximalist demands, effectively seeking Ukraine’s surrender. Such behaviour is unacceptable and deserves the strongest condemnation.

Ukraine expresses its gratitude to all partners providing military assistance, particularly in strengthening our air defence. Hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles are launched daily, deliberately timed during a bitterly cold winter. This is why such aid, especially air-defence missiles, remains our top priority, and we count on continued support.

Equally important is maintaining and strengthening sanctions pressure on the aggressor state, increasing the cost of aggression and compelling Moscow to end the war. As President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently stated: “The task of everyone in the world who wants this war to end must be to constrain Russia’s ability to adapt to the pressure imposed in response to this war. Effective pressure on the aggressor is the key fertiliser for driving the diplomatic process.”

Indeed, continued international pressure, combined with unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, is essential to restoring a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act. Ukraine calls on participating States to remain united, resolute, and principled in their response to Russia’s aggression.

Thank you, Mr Chairperson.