Mr President,

We express our gratitude to the Special Rapporteur for his efforts to uphold human rights under exceptionally challenging circumstances and commend for his report, which describes the systematic targeting of civilians, residential neighbourhoods, and civilian infrastructure by the Russian armed forces in Ukraine.

Unfortunately, Russia continues to wage a campaign of terror against Ukrainians. Through repeated strikes using missiles, multiple-launch rocket systems, guided aerial bombs, and combat drones, residential areas, energy infrastructure, and essential services are deliberately targeted. These attacks inflict daily fear, suffering, and destruction, seemingly intended to break civilian resilience, render cities unliveable, and forcibly displace Ukrainians from their homes.

It speaks volumes that over the course of four years of full-scale war, Russia has damaged or destroyed more than 2.5 million households. In Kyiv alone, more than 2,960 residential buildings have been affected.

Russia must be held accountable for domicide and other grave violations of international law, those responsible must face consequences. Justice for the victims is not only a moral imperative but also a binding legal obligation.

Mr. Special Rapporteur,

How can existing international legal mechanisms be strengthened to ensure accountability for acts of domicide and related violations documented in your report?

I thank you.