Madam Chairperson,  

While Ukrainian school-age children and their parents were sleeping peacefully at home before the start of the school year, russia launched a barrage of 35 missiles and 23 drones.

On that night, September 2, Kyiv, Sumy and Kharkiv regions were under attack.

This attack was one of those that represent the intensification of Russia’s missile terror the Ukrainian people have witnessed over the past week.

At the same time, such cities as Kharkiv, Poltava, and Lviv have become the most recent manifestation of russia’s cruelty and vain attempts to break Ukraine’s will to resist.

On 30 August, the russian army attacked Kharkiv with the use of guided aerial bombs, hitting a residential building.

Six people were killed, including a 14-year-old girl. This girl was killed near a playground. Other 97 people were injured, including 22 children.

On 1 September the russian army repeated the deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure of Kharkiv with Iskander-M and S-300/400 missiles.  

A shopping centre, a sports facility and residential buildings were damaged.

About 50 were wounded, including children, medics and rescue workers.

On 3 September, the russian two ballistic missiles hit the Institute of Communication and a nearby hospital in Poltava.

This attack claimed the lives of 53 people. 271 people were injured. The death toll is likely to be higher.   

On 4 September russia carried out a new deadly attack, using 13 missiles and 29 Shaheds.

As a result, 53 people were injured in Lviv. As of yesterday, 11 people were in critical condition. At the same time seven people, including three children, were killed.

Three girls – 21-year-old Yaryna, 18-year-old Daryna and 9-year-old Emiliya – perished together with their mother under the rubble of their house. Only their father survived. 

Let me quote from a motivation letter written by Daryna for a cultural studies scholarship, “Besides me, my parents are raising two more sisters, and we have an incredibly harmonious family. My family is an inexhaustible source of support that cannot be compared to any other. They are the biggest pillar in my life, helping me to overcome any obstacles”. Now that family is gone. Only the father is left alone with his grief.

Colleagues, at the same time, the missile attack carried out on 26 of August has shown the ruthlessness and total irresponsibility of the russian regime.

On that day 109 drones and 127 missiles were aimed at 15 Ukrainian regions.

For the first time Ukrainian energy facilities were attacked with cluster munition.

Furthermore, the Kyiv Hydroelectric Power Plant and its dam was hit.

Just a month ago, a spokesperson of the russian MFA made a statement about alleged “Ukrainian provocations” aimed at blowing up the dams of Kyiv and Kaniv HPPs.

And last but not least, nuclear safety was once again seriously compromised by russia.

The attack caused fluctuations in the power supply and led to the temporary shutdown or disconnection of reactor units at the Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs.

Russian attacks pose a significant risk to the stable operation of nuclear facilities in Ukraine and the safety of millions of people.

This is a deliberate decision of the Kremlin to threaten the world with a nuclear disaster without direct attacks on the NPPs.

And this could explain a new surge in Russia's disinformation campaign aiming to accuse Ukraine of violating nuclear safety principles.

Esteemed colleagues, 

I have started my statement with recalling the attack that russia carried out before the start of the school year in Ukraine.

Instead of enjoying their time at school and having fun with their friends, children are forced to hide in shelters and live under the constant threat of being bombed. 

This is not only a reminder of the burdens and hardships that children face in Ukraine. That russia is killing whole families at their houses. That russia is trying to deprive Ukraine of its future.

However, the 1^st of September also separates us from the Second World War which broke out 85 years ago.

The violence of those days not only outlawed the war of aggression.

But the recognition of the irrationality of the war also gave a powerful impetus to multilateralism which has been on the rise since then, with different purposes for the benefits of humankind.

Like the UN “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”.

Or the European project with its emphasis on integration, while respecting diversity. 

Or the OSCE which is focused on the ideas of shared cooperation and security.

However, whatever their goals, all of them are based on one ideal – to protect and promote the respect for human life and dignity.

And it was never the idea of any of existing multilateral structure to come to terms with an aggressor. The tragedy of the Second World War showed that this is impossible.  

Unfortunately, the children killed by russia over this week have become yet another black page in our history, including of the OSCE.

Because every new death raises a reasonable question, how russia’s participation in the OSCE correspondents with the genocidal war waged against the Ukrainian people?

Or how their presence in the OSCE helps to prevent new tragedies?

Or shouldn’t we use multilateral platforms exclusively to decide on appropriate courses of actions to prevent a repetition of the atrocities of the past?  

Because the Second World War has taught us that diplomacy can work only if concrete decisions are taken to stop the aggressor.

The russian regime is no exception.

Like 85 years ago, peace-loving nations have to use their unity and technological advantage to stop the aggressor.

Missiles, bombs and drones do not fall on civilians just from the sky.

We know the military airfields from which the jets take off, the logistical routes by which the bombs and missiles are supplied, and the military bases where the launchers are stationed.   

Tragedies in Kharkiv, Poltava, Lviv have shown that the russian regime has no restrictions on long-range strikes against any place in Ukraine.

And while russia’s power is resting on terror and false redlines, international law provides us with all necessary means to protect civilians.

To put an end to this terror, Ukraine needs air defense systems and ammunition, as well as decisions allowing us to launch long-range strikes against any legitimate military target in russia.

The decision to allow neighbouring countries to use air defense systems to intercept russia’s means of killing must be finally made.

This would nothing else but the fulfilment of our common obligation to protect and save human life.

Not a single Russian missile or strike should be left without a fair response – a response with weapons, sanctions, economic support for Ukraine and an approximation of russia’s accountability.

Human life is the only red line we must force russia to respect.

This is how we can return the peaceful sky to our children.

 I thank you, Madam Chairperson.