WFUWO Urges Immediate Action at UN Human Rights Council: Dr. Kateryna Bondar Calls for Release of Ukrainian Civilians and Accountability for Russia’s War Crimes
Dr Kateryna Bondar speaking on behalf of WFUWO during the Interactive dialogue on High Commissioner’s update on Ukraine and interim report of Secretary-General on human rights in temporarily occupied territories, presented by Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 3 July 2025.
WFUWO’s oral statement:
«We thank the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General for the reports. We are gravely concerned about the continued and massive aerial attacks on Ukraine by the Russian Federation. The intensified use of long-range missiles and systematic drone strikes have led to a dramatic 50% increase in civilian casualties this year. We condemn in the strongest of terms these actions, including the deliberate targeting of residential areas and civilian infrastructure, transportation networks, and emergency and rescue services.
Widespread and systematic use of enforced disappearances and torture in occupied territories must stop. The international community and this Council must intensify efforts to secure the release of all Ukrainian civilians unlawfully detained. Currently, 37,000 Ukrainians are registered missing, and 16,000 Ukrainian civilians are known to be detained by Russia, though the actual number is likely much higher. Many have been held for years without trial, subjected to torture, inhumane conditions, and unlawful transfer to the Russian Federation. The tragic case of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who died in Russian captivity showing clear signs of torture, underscores the urgency of international action. The detention of civilians is a grave violation of international law. We stress that civilians must not be included in prisoner exchanges. They must be released immediately and unconditionally.
Continued efforts are necessary to ensure access to occupied territories for the monitoring of human rights. We fully support the position of the Government of Ukraine in its efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and a just and lasting peace, as well as the recent establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. All those responsible for the crime of aggression and war crimes must be brought to justice.»