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Let me thank Assistant Secretary General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco and Assistant Secretary General Ivan Šimonović for their briefings. We thank the UN and its Human Rights Monitoring Mission for its work and look forward to its continued reporting. The UN and OSCE monitoring missions need to be provided full, free and unrestricted access to the whole territory of Ukraine, including Crimea. Since we last met on the situation in Ukraine, a ceasefire has come into effect. A seize-and-fire, in the interpretation of separatists. During the period Ukrainian forces and civilians were shelled some 2 000 times, 89 Ukrainian servicemen were killed and 500 wounded. Thhe self-proclaimed „premier“ of the so-called DPR, Zacharchenko, insists that that all of Donetsk region is ‘theirs”, and that they could “take” the towns of Berdiansk and Izium, among others.

Russian soldiers continue to die on the Ukrainian soil - soldiers who allegedly are not even there, and whose families will now receive monthly compensation for their “missing in action”. The head of Russian women’s group “Cargo 200” Yelena Vasilyev, some 4000 Russian soldiers have lost their lives in Ukraine.

The self-appointed separatist chieftains in eastern Ukraine- pawns in Kremlin’s dangerous Novorossia plan of redrawing Europe’s borders in the 21st century- are wasting no time in demolishing what was achieved in Minsk. Attacks by illegal armed groups on Donetsk airport are a daily reality. The latest OSCE SMM reports again speak of the attempts by separatist armed groups to seize strategic targets.

Sophisticated Russian military equipment, multiple rocket launchers, tanks, and ammunition continue to cause death and destruction on Ukraine’s soil, and the border remains wide open for the comings and goings of men in military fatigues and Cossack uniforms.

As a matter of fact, only one kilometer of the entire 400-km segment of the border, currently out of Ukraine’s control, is being monitored by the OSCE. And yet, at the meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council on October 22, Russia single-handedly blocked the extension of the OSCE Observer Mission’s activities along the entire 400 km border line.

"We control the border and we will not let Ukrainian border guards return there. We don't need any international mediators on the border, either," Andrei Purgin, self-proclaimed first deputy prime minister of the DNR, told Interfax. Indeed, why should they need international presence that could witness illegal flows of military supplies and foreign fighters, or register Ukraine’s coal and equipment being smuggled out of the country, causing Ukraine considerable economic and financial damage?

Let us not forget that in August and September, Russia sent three unchecked “humanitarian aid convoys” into Ukraine in clear breach of internationally accepted practice, without the consent of and inspection by the Ukrainian authorities, and without coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross. Whatever was in those convoys, all we can say for sure is that after these mystery convoys entered the zone, the rebels were quick to regain ground and reverse Ukraine’s successes in clearing the area of illegal armed groups.

Russia, trigger - quick to shower on Ukraine accusations, including ones long-debunked, has not even once spoken against the multiple violations of ceasefire by the illegal militants who continue to enjoy its full support.

As Ukraine is preparing for the critical national elections on 26 October, the separatists are planning an “election” of their own on 2 November. Another sham, illegal and illegitimate election, another cynical and blatant breach of the Minsk agreements. The international community must stand firm in condemning such illegal acts.

Madam President,

The human rights situation in the areas controlled by Russian-backed armed groups remains of most serious concern. Extra-judicial killings, torture, intimidation, public humiliation, and ill-treatment, extortion, abductions for ransom and forced labour remain the trademarks of pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine.

As the latest OHCHR report indicates, violence against women, including rapes, in separatist held areas has reached disturbing proportions. Information on child soldiers among the militant separatists and military schools for children points to violations of IHL.

The situation of the indigenous Tatar community in Russia-occupied Crimea continues to deteriorate. Reported cases of kidnapping, torture and killing of young male Crimean Tatars, continuous persecution and eviction of the Mejlis in Simferopol, and interrogations of its activists continue unabated.

Yet once again, in spite of the multiple atrocities committed by the illegal separatist groups, we are yet to hear a single condemnation of those crimes by Russia. It is quite ironic that Russia, which has consistently ignored HRW reports on such abuses, including on enforced disappearances in the Crimea, should now widely quote HRW report on the alleged use of cluster bombs in Ukraine. While Ukraine has firmly denied their use, Ukraine’s joining the Oslo Convention would be the best antidote to any further speculations to this effect.

Madam President,

In the face of continuous propaganda and military attacks, Ukraine alone is demonstrating commitment to implement the Minsk agreements. Life is gradually returning to normal in areas freed from the illegal insurgents. Legislations has been adopted on the registration of and support for IDPs, on amnesty and interim local self-governance, combatting corruption and prosecution. On 18 October, the law on the special status of Luhansk and Donetsk came into effect. We commend Ukraine’s commitment to pursue the path of difficult but necessary reforms and strongly encourage the Government to continue the national dialogue and ensure full inclusivity of all groups of the population.

At the same time we must stress that without Russia’s full cooperation and compliance the Minsk agreements will be no more than the paper on which they are written. The success or failure of the ceasefire hinges first and foremost on Moscow’s actions and acceptance of its responsibility for the bloodshed in Ukraine.

The only viable solution is one that fully respects Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity, with Crimean as its integral part. Russia must immediately withdraw all its armed formations, military equipment and fighters from the territory of Ukraine, stop supporting and arming the separatists and unequivocally condemn the illegal elections planned by the separatist commandos. Permanent monitoring and verification on both sides of the Ukrainian-Russian state border must be ensured.

With thousands of human lives lost and hundreds of thousands displaced, it is also essential to establish accountability for the violations and human rights abuses that have taken place during this war against Ukraine. Those who have committed serious violations of international, humanitarian, and human rights laws must be brought to account.

In this respect, we encourage Ukraine to accede to the International Criminal Court, and also accelerate national efforts to pursue accountability. We also reiterate our position that those responsible for the downing of MH17 - and all those who have obstructed access to the site and interfered with the investigation- must be brought to account.

Finally, Russia should stop escalating tensions in the wider region. The recently proposed draft agreement on alliance and integration between the Russian Federation and the surrogate republic of Abkhazia is nothing else but a de facto annexation of an integral part of Georgia.

I thank you, Madam President.