On 9 August, Ukraine, together with the international community, marks the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples — a day dedicated to recognizing their contribution to the cultural heritage of humanity, as well as their struggle for rights, dignity, and freedom.
Ukraine reaffirms its commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined, in particular, in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and guarantees the preservation and development of their ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and religious identity on its territory in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine,” adopted in 2021.
The indigenous peoples of Ukraine — Crimean Tatars, Karaites, and Krymchaks — are an integral part of our history, culture, and contemporary life.
Today, all three indigenous peoples of Ukraine suffer from the consequences of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, in particular in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
Crimean Tatars face mass repressions, including arrests, torture, politically motivated verdicts, the ongoing ban on the Mejlis, restrictions on the use of their native language, and searches in schools, mosques, and homes.
Karaites and Krymchaks, as small in number but unique indigenous peoples, are in fact disappearing from the cultural space of the occupied peninsula. Russia pursues a policy of forced assimilation, which is effectively leading to the destruction of the autochthonous environment in the temporarily occupied peninsula.
Mass relocation of Russian nationals to Crimea takes place alongside the displacement of the indigenous population from their native land, the destruction of historical monuments and sacred sites, as well as changes to the linguistic environment.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine consistently draws the attention of the international community to the systemic violations of the rights of Ukraine’s indigenous peoples by the occupying state and initiates relevant political and legal measures at the global level, including through platforms of international organizations such as the UN, the OSCE, and the Council of Europe.
An example of Ukraine’s active efforts in this area is the April re-election of Ukraine’s representative, Suleiman Mamutov, to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for 2026–2028.
One of the key international instruments for protecting the rights of Ukraine’s indigenous peoples is the International Crimea Platform — a diplomatic forum where human rights issues, including those of indigenous peoples, are among the top priorities.
Ukraine calls on the international community to:
On this day, Ukraine expresses solidarity with all indigenous peoples who continue to fight for their rights, especially under conditions of war, occupation, and persecution. Protecting the rights of indigenous peoples is the foundation of a just peace and international security.