Ambassador Holland condemns the civilian suffering caused by Russia's strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and indiscriminate attacks on cities.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. It has been six weeks since the Council last discussed this agenda item. During these six weeks, regrettably, Russia has continued the same pattern of behaviour we have seen for almost three years. A pattern of behaviour that is indefensible and inconsistent with Russia's international commitments, including under the UN Charter, the Geneva Conventions and the Helsinki Final Act.
On 25 December, a day of significance for many Christians in Ukraine, Russia launched a massive missile attack against energy infrastructure, killing an energy worker, and leaving hundreds of thousands in the Dnipro and Kharkiv regions without heating for days.
Ukrainians had to endure 13 widescale missile attacks against their energy infrastructure in 2024. Not only has this threatened civilian access to power, water and heating over winter, but by targeting transmission equipment critical to the safe and secure operation of nuclear power plants, Russia has posed serious threats to nuclear safety as well.
We have already seen the first such attack of 2025, with Russia hitting sites primarily in the west of Ukraine, including gas storage facilities on 15 January.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine concluded that these attacks on energy infrastructure constituted the war crime of excessive incidental civilian harm and potentially a crime against humanity.
It is not just these attacks that raise serious concerns about Russia's respect for its obligations under international humanitarian law. The UN has also raised concerns about Russia's indiscriminate attacks against the civilian population.
During our recess, on 8 January, a Russian attack in Zaporizhzhia city caused the highest number of civilian casualties from a single incident for almost two years. Two Russian glide bombs struck a crowd outside an industrial facility, killing 13 civilians and injuring 110. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said: "It was entirely foreseeable that using such weapons in a city during the day would result in significant civilian casualties … It is hard to see how this attack could be in compliance with the obligation to minimise civilian harm."
The UN estimates that there have been more than 30,000 civilian casualties since the Russian state launched its unprovoked war. Approximately 10,500 killed and more than 20,000 injured. These are a conservative estimate. The true figure is likely far higher.
2024 was a difficult year for Ukraine with attacks against the civilian population and its energy infrastructure. And Russia has started 2025 in the same vein. And just as we did in 2024, the UK will stand with Ukraine in 2025 and beyond. This unbreakable bond was formalised earlier this month through the signing of a landmark UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership. We will continue to give political, economic, military and moral support to ensure Ukraine prevails, to secure the lasting peace that the Ukrainian people deserve and the security that our continent demands. Thank you.
