78th Session of the UN General Assembly, United Nations Security Council
Arria-formula meeting on violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law investigated by the
Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine
Statement by the Republic of Estonia, submitted in written form
27 October 2023
Mr. Chair,
Estonia would like to iterate its utmost support to the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine. We are grateful for the efforts of the Commission to investigate and shed light on the grave violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against its sovereign neighbor continues to affect millions of people in Ukraine and around the world. According to the collected evidence, Russian authorities have committed war crimes against the people of Ukraine. This includes deliberate killings, attacks on civilians, torture, rape and other types of sexual violence. We would especially like to highlight the unlawful transfers and deportations of Ukrainian children to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, and deportation to Russia and Belarus, for which the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants against Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova.
The OHCHR has recorded over 27 000 civilian casualties in Ukraine, although the real number is likely higher. 8062 of these recorded persons were killed and another 16610 injured in attacks with explosive weapons in populated areas. These attacks, often times carried out in areas with no military presence, have left thousands of civilians homeless and displaced. Estonia condemns in the strongest terms the attacks against residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and shops. We are deeply concerned about Russia’s large-scale attacks against energy infrastructure, deliberately aiming to leave millions of people, including children and the most vulnerable without electricity, heating and water ahead of winter. These tactics display clear signs of genocide against the Ukrainian people and constitutes a war crime.
Estonia is deeply shocked by the widespread use of torture against Ukrainian detainees, committed by Russian armed forces, personnel of the National Guard of Russia, soldiers of the former so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, and Wagner Group mercenaries. In addition to electrical shocks, victims have suffered from severe beatings, starvation, mock executions, and other forms of torture. The detainees have been inflicted to severe physical and mental pain and suffering, leading to long-term physical and psychological trauma for the victims and their loved ones. The perpetrators have shown complete disregard for the victims’ life and dignity by holding them in inhuman conditions. In some cases, torture has been committed with such brutality that it has led to death, amounting to unlawful killing and violating victims’ right to life.
Estonia is appalled by the extent of rape and sexual violence, committed by the Russian authorities as an inhumane tactic of war. The findings of the Commission are utterly shocking – documenting cases of victims of rape aged from 16 to 83 years, including a 16-year-old pregnant girl. Some victims were gang-raped or raped several times by the same perpetrator. Many of the victims suffered from additional acts of violence, including severe beatings, strangling, suffocating, slashing, and shooting next to the victim’s head. In several instances, these unspeakable acts were carried out in front of family members of the victims. We stand with the brave women and girls of Ukraine who have reported these horrendous crimes that leave a scar to their psychological well-being for their whole life. Estonia calls for all perpetrators of these crimes to be held accountable.
Allow me to conclude by reminding Russia that in February this year, 141 members of the General Assembly demanded “that the Russian Federation immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, and called for a cessation of hostilities”. Russia’s political and military leadership must be held accountable for its unlawful and unjustified crime of aggression and the war crimes committed against the people of Ukraine.
Thank you Mr. Chair