Mr. Chairperson,

I would like to deliver a statement on Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.

While Russia was staging another sham elections, its armed forces continued to attack Ukrainian cities. Between 16 and 18 September alone, Russia launched at least one Oniks missile, ballistic missiles, four Kalibr cruise missiles, at least ten Banderol and Dan-T munitions, and 330 strike UAVs and decoys against Ukraine. On 17 September, impacts were recorded at 36 locations, with Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia and Odesa regions among the principal targets. On 20 September, Ukrainian regional authorities reported four civilians killed and five injured in Sumy region. During the night of 20–21 September in Zaporizhzhia, apartment buildings, a university and a shopping centre were damaged, and at least five people were injured.

These attacks once again expose the reality behind Moscow’s political farce: while claiming to consult its population, the Russian leadership continues to deny Ukrainians their most fundamental rights — the rights to life, security and freedom from occupation.

Esteemed colleagues,

From 18 to 20 September, the Russian Federation organised a charade of elections to the State Duma. This illegal “voting” was conducted in parts of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine that grossly violates international law, including the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly. My country did not grant permission to open Russian polling stations on its sovereign territory. No ballot organised under occupation can alter the status of Ukrainian territory. Crimea, Sevastopol and the temporarily occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions remain Ukraine.

Since 2014, the Kremlin has used the imitation of voting in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine as a tool to legitimise illegal occupation and annexation. Forced passportisation of Ukrainian citizens and coercion to participate in such “voting” constitute a systemic crime of the Russian occupation regime.

The Russian occupiers illegally used data from the Ukrainian voter registry obtained during the occupation of local authorities to rig the election results. The “record turnout” figures announced by the Russian Central Election Commission bear no relation to reality.

Ukraine insists on the full non-recognition of the results of these Russian sham elections due to the illegal organisation of “voting” in the occupied territories of Ukraine, as well as in Moldova and Georgia, and their total non-compliance with international standards.

Those involved in organising or facilitating this illegal process — including so-called foreign observers used to provide it with a veneer of legitimacy — must face international sanctions and legal consequences. The Ukrainian state is identifying the organisers and will employ all available legal mechanisms to bring them to justice.

Mr. Chairperson,

On 20 September, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha called on the international community to draw attention to the severe humanitarian distress in the occupied part of Kherson region and to assist in organising evacuation corridors.

The actions of the Russian military have created a humanitarian disaster in the temporarily occupied part of Kherson region, particularly in Oleshky, Hola Prystan, Stara Zburivka and Nova Zburivka. The Russian occupiers are deliberately creating conditions incompatible with life, in gross violation of international humanitarian law. The Russian military is blocking evacuation and using residents of the temporarily occupied territories as human shields.

Approximately 2,000 civilians remain in Oleshky, including 50 children. Prior to the full-scale war, the city’s population exceeded 24,000. Oleshky and other settlements in the occupied part of Kherson region are under an effective blockade: supplies of food, medicine and other essential items are blocked by the Russian military. Critical infrastructure has been destroyed; electricity and gas supplies are absent.

The Russian occupiers have artificially created conditions aimed at destroying the Ukrainian population in the occupied part of Kherson Region. Under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, such actions may be qualified as an act of genocide.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has expressed readiness to help organise humanitarian corridors but Russians are blocking these initiatives.

Ukraine calls on its international partners for coordinated action to establish evacuation corridors in order to save lives.

Esteemed colleagues,

Against this background, Ukraine values practical regional solidarity. We thank Romania, Poland, Hungary, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia and Serbia for their participation in the Carpathian Economic Forum and for launching the Carpathian Eight format together with Ukraine.

We also express our deep gratitude to the United States. On 18 September, President Donald Trump signed into law the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 following its passage by both Houses of Congress with bipartisan support. Increasing US pressure on the Kremlin remains an effective means of compelling Putin to halt hostilities and engage in negotiations.

“A friend in need is a friend indeed.” Ukraine knows its true friends and remains deeply grateful to all those who continue to stand with us.

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.