The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine welcomes the publication of the report of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the human rights situation in the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by the russian federation as a result of a full-scale military invasion, and in the sovereign territories of our state, on which control of the Government of Ukraine was subsequently restored.

The document shows gross violations by the aggressor state of international law, human rights and international humanitarian law in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

The report revealed that the russian occupation authorities systematically deprive Ukrainian citizens of fundamental rights and freedoms; stifles dissent; undermines Ukrainian systems of governance, administration, justice, and education; establishes control over the media; suppresses of manifestations of Ukrainian culture and identity, as well as commits other violations that affect every aspect of the daily life of citizens.

From the first days of its occupation of Ukrainian territories, the russian armed forces carried out the widespread arbitrary detention of civilians, which was often accompanied by torture and ill-treatment, and a many of these cases amounted to enforced disappearances.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has identified numerous crimes of the russian occupiers, including the suppression of peaceful protests, arbitrary executions and killings, restrictions on freedom of speech and movement of residents, regular searches, often accompanied by physical violence, in particular sexual, and theft of property. The report also indicates significant demographic changes through forced displacement of the population – the russian occupation authorities deliberately introduced fundamental changes in the structure of society and its government, which is a direct violation of international humanitarian law.

The Mission recorded cases of forced transfer of Ukrainian children within the Ukrainian territories temporarily occupied by russia, as well as illegal deportation of children to the russian federation or belarus, to institutional care institutions and institutions for children with physical or mental disabilities. Some of them are orphans or deprived of parental care, which greatly complicates the process of their search.

We urge the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine to continue to make efforts to properly and thoroughly monitor human rights violations caused by russian aggression, to provide the international community with objective conclusions based on verified facts and evidence.

We urge the international community to redouble its efforts in the fight against russia’s impunity, bringing the aggressor state to justice for all crimes committed, and establishing justice for all its victims.

We also appeal to the UN Member States to join the international efforts to implement the principles of the Ukrainian Peace Formula and create a world in which the use of force will be inconceivable and human rights as well as human dignity will be paramount.