Mr Chairperson,

Two days ago, on 28 July, Ukraine honoured the memory of its defenders, members of volunteer formations, and civilians who were executed, tortured, or died in captivity. This Day of Remembrance was established to commemorate the tragic events of 2022, when Russia carried out the mass murder of Ukrainian defenders at the former Volnovakha Correctional Colony near Olenivka in the Donetsk region. More than 50 prisoners of war were killed, and over 100 others were wounded.

This massacre was not an isolated atrocity. It is part of a clear pattern of serious violations of international humanitarian law that continues to this day. In total, more than 345 executions of prisoners of war have already been officially documented. According to the UN, more than 96 per cent of Ukrainian prisoners of war released from Russian captivity were subjected to torture and ill-treatment.

Four years after the Olenivka tragedy, Russia's war of aggression continues to be marked by terror and a blatant disregard for international humanitarian law. Nothing illustrates this disregard more clearly than the relentless attacks on civilians.

On 23 July, a Russian bomb struck the city of Pavlohrad in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Three people were killed, and 28 were injured. On 24 July, Russian missiles struck the Kyiv region, killing 12 people and injuring nearly 100 others. On the same day, a Russian strike destroyed the building of the Honorary Consulate of Latvia in Sloviansk, Donetsk region. Last Sunday, a Russian drone struck a supermarket in Chernihiv, killing two people, including a 10-year-old girl, and injuring 25 others.

Just this morning, following yet another overnight Russian drone and missile attack against Ukraine, at least eight people have been killed across the country and dozens more injured. In Kryvyi Rih, six people, including three children, were killed in their home. In Lviv, 30 people were injured after a Russian missile struck a residential building. Two kindergartens and a school were also damaged. In Kyiv, one person was killed and two others were injured. One of the Russian missiles crossed into Poland, violating NATO airspace.

Excellencies,

Against the backdrop of a sharp intensification of attacks on civilians, the aggressor state is also escalating its assault on freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. On Monday, this issue was discussed at the UN Security Council, where many delegations expressed deep concern over this dangerous consequence of Russia's war of aggression and clearly condemned its actions. The facts speak for themselves.

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale military invasion, more than 1,000 port infrastructure facilities have been damaged or partially destroyed. A further 232 civilian vessels have been damaged, while more than 300 civilians have been killed or injured as a result of Russia's deliberate campaign against Ukraine's port infrastructure and civilian shipping. In June and July alone, Russia attacked nearly 50 cargo vessels, killing more than 30 people.

The consequences extend far beyond Ukraine. By targeting ports and commercial shipping, Russia is placing additional pressure on global food markets, increasing transport costs, and creating uncertainty for countries that depend on Ukrainian agricultural exports. Millions of families across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East ultimately bear the cost.

Mr Chairperson,

As Minister Sybiha recently stated: "Russia's terror knows no limits. Our response must not be limited either. Every available instrument of pressure must be used to increase the cost of Russian aggression and accelerate the end of this war."

The international community's response must remain resolute. It is essential to maintain pressure on the aggressor state, strengthen Ukraine's defence, and ensure full accountability for Russia’s crime of aggression, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

Here, in the OSCE, it is particularly important to make full use of the tools available within the Organisation. We strongly believe that it can contribute to sustaining political pressure on Russia, strengthening Ukraine's resilience, supporting accountability efforts, and assisting those affected by the war.

In this regard, I would like to express Ukraine's gratitude to the Swiss OSCE Chairpersonship, the Secretariat, autonomous institutions and all participating States that took part in the recent solidarity visit to Ukraine. The visit reaffirmed the unwavering support of the participating States for Ukraine and demonstrated the OSCE's ability to provide practical assistance where it is most needed. We greatly appreciate this expression of solidarity.

Russia's campaign of terror against civilians, its attacks on freedom of navigation, its attempts to undermine global food security, and its broader efforts to destabilise Europe, including by violating national airspace of Poland, Romania and Baltic states, will never be accepted, nor will they ever become the new normal.

Thank you, Mr Chairperson.