OSCE Permanent Council No.1487 Vienna, 5 September 2024

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OSCE Permanent Council No.1487 Vienna, 5 September 2024

05.09.2024 Press and information team of the Delegation to UN and OSCE in Vienna

EU Statement on the Russian Federation's ongoing aggression against Ukraine

1. The European Union strongly condemns the latest wave of massive missile and drone attacks carried out by Russia against Ukraine. On 24 August, a Russian missile struck a hotel in the town of Kramatorsk, in Ukraine's Donetsk oblast, killing a Reuters staff member and injuring four journalists. Throughout the following week, Russia launched its most brutal assault since February 2022, deploying at least 109 drones and 127 missiles against Ukraine on 26 August alone. This was followed by further attacks on 27 August, 30 August, and 1-2 September, targeting Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Sumy oblasts, as well as the cities of Poltava and Lviv on 3 and 4 September, respectively, resulting in several civilian fatalities.
2. According to Ukrainian authorities, these attacks targeted critical energy infrastructure and residential buildings across fifteen Ukrainian regions, including the capital, Kyiv. At least eleven energy facilities were affected, further worsening access to energy and water for millions of people in Ukraine. The appalling civilian toll from Russia's strikes on residential areas in Kharkiv on 30 August, which claimed at least six lives, including that of a child, and left more than 80 others wounded, is emblematic of Russia's systematic disregard for human life and its violation of fundamental principles of international law.
3. This relentless assault on Ukraine's cities, towns, and villages is a continuation of Russia's pattern of massive damage that cannot be allowed to become routine. The toll on civilians continues to rise as missiles, shells, and drones strike daily, inflicting death, devastation, displacement, and unimaginable suffering. According to OHCHR, July was the deadliest month for civilians since October 2022, with at least 219 killed and over 1000 injured, including 60 children. We repeat our call on Russia to immediately and unconditionally halt its systematic air strikes against Ukraine's civilians as well as civilian objects, which blatantly violate international humanitarian law. The EU will sustain its support for efforts by national and international investigative bodies and monitoring mechanisms in gathering evidence of Russia's violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law in Ukraine.
4. Among many heinous acts, Russia attempted to strike the Kyiv Hydroelectric Power Plant, such an attack could replicate the catastrophic destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023. Such actions are not only reprehensible but may also constitute war crimes, as they aim to flood densely populated areas, causing loss of life and untold suffering, as well as environmental damage. This relentless assault on Ukraine's energy infrastructure is a deliberate attack on the very lifeblood of Ukraine's economy and civilian population, aimed at plunging millions into darkness and cold as winter approaches. These actions clearly demonstrate Russia's ongoing blatant disregard for international law and its callous calculation to make Ukraine uninhabitable. All those responsible will be held accountable.
5. Moreover, Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine poses a grave threat to nuclear safety and security, with potentially severe consequences for Ukraine and its neighbouring countries, as well as wider global repercussions. None of these risks existed before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and its illegal seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. As we have seen, Russia has been carrying out large-scale attacks regularly targeting civilian infrastructure, such as power plants, electricity substations, and gas storage facilities across Ukraine. These attacks also increase the risk of a nuclear accident due to periodic loss of off-site power for all Ukrainian nuclear power plants. The EU reiterates its support for the work of the IAEA and its Director General under these unprecedented circumstances and calls for the respect of the seven indispensable pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security during armed conflict. The EU calls once more on Russia to implement unconditionally the IAEA Board and General Conference resolutions, as well as the UN General Assembly Resolution on "Safety and Security of Nuclear Facilities of Ukraine, including the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant" adopted on 11 July.
6. There is no room for ambiguity: Russia, the aggressor, seeks to subjugate Ukraine- as repeatedly declared by the Kremlin and its propaganda machine-by targeting civilians and critical energy infrastructure in a campaign of terror. Ukraineis exercising its legitimate right of self-defence, aiming to protect its people, sovereignty, and territorial integrity through its defensive operations and to diminish Russia's capacity to continue its war of aggression, in line with international law.
7. We remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. We reconfirm our unwavering commitment to providing continued multifaceted support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed, based on Ukraine's urgent needs.
8. The path to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace requires the aggressor, Russia, to stop its unprovoked, unjustifiable and illegal war of aggression, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders, and respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We urge all countries not to provide material or other support for Russia's war of aggression, which is a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter, and the OSCE's core principles and commitments.