UN General Assembly declares Russia's attack on Ukraine an aggression for the first time in updated resolution
Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The UN General Assembly has approved an updated resolution, "The situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol," which was supported by 81 countries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reports this.
This document covers the human rights situation in all temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, which provides for enhanced monitoring by the UN and the international community of all crimes and gross violations committed by the Russian occupation authorities against the local people in these territories.
The main provisions of the resolution
- Support for the sovereignty of Ukraine:
The UN General Assembly confirmed the territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and the non-recognition of any changes in the status of Ukrainian territories and also called on Russia to immediately cease aggression and withdraw its troops.
- Recognition of the Russian war of aggression:
The resolution was the first to officially call Russia's actions in Ukraine a "war of aggression against Ukraine."
- Rights of prisoners of war:
The General Assembly condemned torture, ill-treatment, and sexual violence against Ukrainian prisoners of war, calling on the Russian Federation to ensure access for international humanitarian organizations to their places of detention and to facilitate a full exchange of prisoners of war.
- Protection of deported children:
The document calls for an end to the deportation of Ukrainian children, a demand to provide a full list of deportees and their return home.
- Detonation of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station:
The Russian Federation is found responsible for the catastrophic consequences of the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station, including economic, environmental, and humanitarian damage.
- Attacks on civilian infrastructure:
The resolution condemns shelling of Ukrainian port infrastructure, blockade of ports, and threats to civilian shipping, which threaten global food security.
- Monitoring violations:
The UN General Assembly called for enhanced monitoring of human rights in the occupied territories, illegal detention of Ukrainian civilians, use of torture and ill-treatment, and discrimination against residents of temporarily occupied territories.
- "List of shame":
The Russian armed forces and their affiliated groups have been included for the second time on the list of countries committing crimes against children, including the murder of children and attacks on schools and hospitals in Ukraine.
Ukraine expressed gratitude to all countries that supported this document, emphasizing that the resolution is essential to restoring the rule of international law.
"We call on all UN member states to continue to exert pressure on the aggressor state for the sake of restoring justice and sustainable peace in Ukraine and the world as a whole. A return to the rule of law and respect for fundamental freedoms will contribute to strengthening European and global security and prevent the recurrence of similar crimes in the future," the foreign ministry stressed.
For reference:
It should be noted that in November, at least 165 civilians were killed, and another 887 were injured in Russian attacks in Ukraine, including eight children who were killed and 57 wounded.
Ukraine's PM discusses needs for restoration and development of energy system with UN General Assembly head
UN General Assembly adopted resolution on setting legally binding reparation mechanisms
