According to Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Russia’s plan to hold presidential elections in parts of Ukraine it governs from 15 March to 17 March is not acceptable.

According to international humanitarian law, the occupying power, which in this situation is Russia, must abide by the laws of Ukraine in the territories that have been occupied, she added.

‘Unspeakable suffering and destruction’

On March 16, it will have been 10 years since Russia’s illegal efforts to take over Crimea and Sevastopol by using a “referendum.” The speaker mentioned that in 2022, Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine has resulted in additional attempts at annexation in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia areas of Ukraine.

She highlighted General Assembly resolutions condemning these illegal actions and pointed to UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reports on past “so-called referenda” and local elections conducted in a “coercive environment”.

“According to her statement, if a State uses or threatens to use force to annex another State’s territory, it goes against the UN Charter and international law. This is exactly what the Russian Federation has tried to do in Ukraine, causing immense suffering and devastation.”

Growing humanitarian concerns

The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine continues to be critical as Russian forces have escalated their aerial attacks, as noted by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) last week.

A recent report from the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, released on Friday, offers fresh perspective and corroborates previous conclusions that the Russian government has committed widespread and systematic torture against civilians in both Ukraine and Russia, according to the speaker.

She stated that the stories of the victims reveal continuous and merciless mistreatment causing intense agony and distress while being kept in custody for an extended period. This was done without any consideration for basic human rights and decency. She further emphasized the importance of holding responsible those who commit such flagrant offenses.

She expressed her commitment to supporting initiatives that aim towards this goal, by consistently documenting these incidents and urging the Russian Federation to allow access to all prisoners.

“Elusive peace remains out of our grasp.”

She mentioned that after three years, the ongoing war has still not led to peace.

She informed ambassadors that the impact of the war on the citizens of Ukraine is increasingly apparent, with females making up the majority of the 6.2 million individuals displaced due to the conflict.

“Despite facing major challenges, Ukrainian women have played a crucial role in humanitarian efforts. In fact, female-led civil society organizations were among the first to respond to the complete invasion. It is important to acknowledge their vital contribution to the ongoing recovery and establishment of a peaceful future for Ukraine.”

She stated that achieving peace should be our main focus, led by the UN Charter, global laws, and decisions of the General Assembly.

Witness the delivery of a statement from Ukraine’s ambassador on behalf of global allies outside the Security Council Chamber at this location.

Source: news.un.org