UN Security Council meeting on “Maintenance of Peace and Security of Ukraine”
Statement by Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, distributed in written form
29 December 2023, New York
President,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the three Baltic countries – Estonia, Latvia, and my own country, Lithuania.
Thank you for convening today’s Security Council briefing. I also extend my gratitude to the briefers for sharing their valuable insights.
President,
We are convening once again to address Russia’s indiscriminate attack on Ukraine, Ukrainian people, and infrastructure. The Baltic States strongly condemn Russia’s missile and drone assaults taken place today. The attacks perpetrated by Russia on December 29th, a time when people are celebrating Christmas and preparing to welcome the New Year, once again demonstrate determination to persist in imperialistic aggression at any cost. Such aggression disregards the UN Charter, violates international law and Russia’s own commitments, ignores the views of international community and relevant General Assembly resolutions with overwhelming cross-regional support calling for withdrawal of Russian military forces from Ukraine. It is also aims at destroying confidence in peaceful coexistence among states principle and offering the conquest by force instead.
In today’s attack Russia used multiple types of weapons from its arsenal: “Kindzhals,” S-300s cruise missiles, drones, as well as missiles launched by strategic bombers. A total of 158 missiles and drones were launched against Ukraine, 114 had been shot down by Ukrainian air defenses. The attack affected a wide range of civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, a maternity hospital, schools, kindergartens, parks, a metro station, and a shopping mall, as well as energy infrastructure. Electricity was cut in several regions. Destruction was brought to Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and other cities across Ukraine. According to the preliminary report to the UNHCR at least 23 civilians were killed and 134 were injured, because of shelling across the country. We express our condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
This attack comes as part of Russia’s systematic destruction of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure during the winter. On December 19th, Russia launched 82 attacks on the Kherson region using mortars, artillery, “Grad” rocket systems, tanks, Iranian-origin drones, and warplanes. As result 16 people were wounded, including four children. This attack also damaged educational and health care facilities, a post office and other critical infrastructure, including the warehouses of the Ukrainian Red Cross and other humanitarian NGO’s. Concerningly, Iran and the DPRK are voluntarily providing ammunition to Russia in their efforts to slaughter innocent civilians. A UN investigation and a report on this issue to the UN Security Council is highly needed
President,
International humanitarian law explicitly prohibits attacks deliberately targeting civilian objects, as well as indiscriminate attacks, under any circumstances. Deliberately attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure is a war crime. We, the states in the immediate vicinity of Russia’s aggressive war will continue to demand Russia’s international accountability for crimes it has committed. These crimes should not be allowed to continue. We call upon the Secretary-General of the United Nations to remain involved, active and constructive in finding solutions to end Russian aggression against Ukraine while respecting Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. On our part we will continue to provide much needed support to Ukraine, including humanitarian assistance.
We reiterate our call on Russia to immediately, fully, and unconditionally withdraw all its troops, mercenaries, and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
Thank you.