Mr Chairperson,

Let us be clear: since 2014, the only legitimate outcomes of votes concerning Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territory have been those reflected in the voting record of the United Nations General Assembly. These votes stated unequivocal that Russia’s attempted annexation of sovereign Ukrainian territory is illegal and the aggression must come to an end without preconditions.

Regrettably, Moscow continues to ignore the voice of the international community and take further steps to tighten its illegal grip on Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territory. Yet another example came from 18 to 20 September, when Russia once again held its so-called ‘voting there.

These shame ‘elections’ illegal and devoid of any legal effect. Russia’s temporary occupation does not confer sovereignty over Ukrainian territory, nor can elections organised by the occupying power alter its internationally recognised status. No ‘vote’ organised by Russia at gunpoint can legitimise its attempted annexation.

As Russia stages these sham ‘elections’, the situation for civilians in Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territory continues to deteriorate. In some areas, it can only be described as a humanitarian catastrophe.

Particularly alarming is the situation in the Kherson region. In the settlement of Oleshky, around 2,000 residents, including approximately 50 children, remain under Russian occupation. There is no electricity or gas supply, and for the past month, deliveries of food, medicine, and other essential supplies have been completely blocked.

Reports from Oleshky, and other settlements in the area, paint a deeply troubling picture of people struggling simply to survive. Despite being fully aware of the situation, the Russian side has still not provided humanitarian missions with the necessary access or allowed an organised evacuation. Even volunteers attempting to deliver humanitarian aid are regularly blocked. On 1 September, four vehicles belonging to volunteers came under attack by Russian forces.

Esteemed colleagues,

Deliberate pressure on civilians is not limited to the temporarily occupied territory. Over the past week, Russia has launched more than 2,000 attack drones, 1,700 guided aerial bombs, and 19 missiles of various types. Hundreds of victims have been reported across the country. Just yesterday`s large strike on Kyiv pharmaceutical facilities, petrol stations, railways, communications networks and shopping centres. left 43 victims, with two persons killed.

Russia has also intensified its attacks on Ukraine’s transport and critical infrastructure. More than 300 Ukrainian fuel stations have reportedly been hit by Russian attacks. According to the Kyiv City Military Administration, 16 petrol stations have already been damaged in the capital alone.

Passenger rail services have also come under attack. On 16 September, Russian forces struck a passenger train travelling from Kyiv to Mykolaiv. On 18 September, a Russian jet-powered UAV struck a train in the Kharkiv region, killing one person and injuring eight others.

These attacks are being documented and examined by independent observers. The latest report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, presented at the UN Human Rights Council, highlights the Commission’s ongoing investigation into Russia’s systematic attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and their humanitarian consequences. As winter approaches, these strikes pose a direct threat to millions of Ukrainian civilians.

Mr Chairperson,

While Russia continues to escalate its campaign of terror against Ukraine’s civilian population, Ukraine continues to work with its international partners towards a just and lasting peace.

On Monday, 21 September, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha took part in a ministerial meeting of the G7 countries on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. As my Minister emphasised: ‘Ukraine wants to end this war. We have realistic solutions. The time has come to double our efforts and force Putin to back down.’

Ukraine is ready to support a mutual halt to strikes on critical infrastructure as a first meaningful step towards de-escalation. We are ready to take reciprocal steps if Russia demonstrates a genuine and lasting commitment to ending the war. Most recently this approach was clearly reaffirmed in the joint statement by 51 states agreed at the UN General Assembly.

For such a process to have meaning, however, it must be double-sided. Peace must be real and durable. Protecting energy infrastructure, food routes, and other critical infrastructure must be an integral part of this process. But to make genuine progress on this track, we need political will from the Russian side. A ceasefire cannot be a one-way street.

Thank you, Mr Chairperson.