46th session of the Human Rights Council

Item 3

Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment 

Intervention by Ukraine

(Geneva, March 3, 2021)

Madame President, 

Ukraine welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights and the Global Water Crisis and thanks Mr Boyd for his work.

Among other things, the report outlines State obligations related to ensuring safe and sufficient water. In this regard, we would like to draw the attention of the Special Rapporteur and the Council to a potential technogenic and environmental catastrophe developing in Donbas. In 2018 the Russian occupation authorities stopped pumping water from the Yunkom mine where the Soviet government carried out a nuclear explosion decades ago. As a result, radiation is already contaminating groundwaters and  spreading to neighbouring regions. What is of particular concern is that the Ukrainian or international experts are unable to assess the caused damage due to blocking of access to the occupied territories by the Russian occupation administrations.

We are also deeply concerned with the Russian Federation's failure as an occupying power to fulfil its obligations under international humanitarian law, particularly Geneva Conventions, to guarantee the civilian population of the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea necessary resources, including water.

Before the Russia's occupation, Crimea's own water resources were sufficient to cover its population's needs even in the driest years. Today, due to the overexploitation of the illegally expropriated industrial facilities and natural resources, accelerated development of a large-scale military-industrial complex and illegal policy of changing Crimea's demographic composition, the Russian occupation authorities deprive local population of Crimea of adequate water resources.

The deteriorating human rights situation on the occupied territories of Ukraine, including access to safe and sufficient water, is the Russian Federation's sole responsibility as an occupying power. Ukraine demands Russia to immediately start respecting its duties under international humanitarian law and reverse the illegal occupation of Crimea.  

Thank you.