UN Security Council Arria-Formula Meeting
“Implementing international humanitarian law: prisoners of war, civilian detainees and foreign fighters, in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine”
Statement delivered by Ms. Katri Lõhmus, Deputy Permanent Representative of Estonia
10 August 2026, New York
Thank you, Chair,
Estonia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union.
We thank Latvia and the United Kingdom together with Ukraine for organizing this meeting. We are deeply moved by the harrowing testimonies of the briefers today. Especially, Ms Umerova and Mr Garsiya, thank you for being here. What you have gone through is a testament to courage and endurance, but also a profound tragedy.
As we have heard today, Russia’s war against Ukraine extends beyond the battlefield. It is waged through captivity, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and the deportation and forcible transfer of children. These are all tools of repression and control.
For twelve years now, since 2014, with the illegal annexation of Crimea and the occupation of parts of Donetsk and Luhansk, a number of credible sources, including the UN mechanisms, have documented systematic torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees in Russian captivity. The reports make it clear that these are not isolated incidents, but systematic practices endorsed by Russian leadership.
We urge the Security Council to take due note of these reports and their findings, and incorporate them into the Council’s work and considerations. We urge Member States to demand Russia to cease the torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian POWs and detainees, and support initiatives that help putting a stop to Russia’s crimes.
Torturing or humiliating a captive is not only cowardly and utterly shameful. It is in clear violation of international humanitarian law and human rights law. They amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
To this day, thousands of Ukrainians remain unlawfully detained, and more than 16,000 civilians from occupied territories are missing. We call on Russia to release all unlawfully detained civilians and disclose the fate and whereabouts of every missing person. Seriously wounded and ill POWs must be repatriated without delay; prisoners exchanges must continue.
A critical issue that needs to be addressed is Russia’s denial of access to UN and ICRC representatives to their detention facilities. The ICRC and UN monitors must be granted full, regular and confidential access to all POWs and civilian detainees.
Ukraine, on the contrary, has shown that it takes its obligations under international humanitarian law seriously and has granted international monitors unhindered access to its detention facilities. The OHCHR has found conditions there largely compliant with international standards.
Estonia also condemns Russia’s exploitation of foreign nationals through deceptive and coercive recruitment practices. This unlawful activity needs to stop. It is important to disrupt these networks and assist the victims.
Chair,
Russia’s actions must be met with accountability. There will be no lasting peace for Ukraine without ensuring accountability for violations of international law committed during Russia’s war of aggression. We support the ICC and the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine in their mission to fight impunity and bring justice to all the victims of this war.
I thank you.