The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine welcomes the presentation of the report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine to the Third Committee of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Ukraine highly appreciates the Commission’s independent and impartial work in consistently documenting violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. The Commission establishes the facts and circumstances of international crimes and collects evidence to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

Of particular significance are the Commission’s findings concerning Russian attacks on Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure. The Commission has determined that these deliberate attacks constitute war crimes, while the large-scale and systematic strikes that have inflicted severe suffering on civilians amount to crimes against humanity.

The Commission has established that, for more than four years, Russian strikes against energy infrastructure have deprived millions of Ukrainians of electricity, heating and water. In the depths of winter, entire families, children and elderly people have been left without the basic necessities of life. These attacks have caused not only widespread destruction but also severe physical and psychological suffering among civilians and, in some cases, loss of life.

Of fundamental importance is the Commission’s finding that these attacks were deliberate and formed part of a State policy of the Russian Federation. The purpose of this policy is to deprive civilians of essential energy supplies and inflict suffering upon them. Russia has deliberately weaponised cold and darkness against Ukrainian civilians.

As another winter approaches, these findings are particularly significant. They serve as a reminder to the international community that Russia continues to deliberately destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. We must not allow millions of people’s lives to be put at risk once again by cold and darkness.

The Commission’s findings concerning the Russian Federation’s recruitment of nationals of other States into its armed forces through deception and coercion warrant the strongest possible international response. The Commission has uncovered evidence of such practices involving nationals of 29 countries and has characterised the actions of the Russian authorities as trafficking in persons. Individuals were lured to Russia with false promises of employment and subsequently sent to fight in the war against Ukraine. Many have been killed, injured or gone missing.

We call on States whose nationals have fallen victim to these criminal practices to strengthen cooperation aimed at dismantling recruitment networks and bringing those responsible to justice.

We believe that the Commission’s findings must be used to ensure that accountability for international crimes committed in the course of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine becomes irreversible. We call on the international community to strengthen its support for Ukraine, particularly ahead of the coming winter, and to facilitate effective investigations and accountability for those responsible.

Behind every documented crime are human lives and destinies. These crimes must not go unpunished. Justice and accountability are indispensable prerequisites for a just and lasting peace.