Chair,
Russia’s continued war of aggression against Ukraine violates fundamental principles of international law, the UN Charter and OSCE principles. Norway notes with concern credible reporting from the UN and other independent monitors - that documents a consistent pattern of abuse and systemic service failures in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, suggesting an absence of an effective, lawful administration by the occupying authorities.
The realities in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine are grim. The extensive documentation of Russia's brutal practices in these areas, including torture of Ukrainian civilian detainees, is well known. Dissent is criminalized and youth are subjected to mandatory enrollment in militarized and ideological groups. Occupying authorities enforce repressive legislation to justify raids, asset seizures and property expropriation.
Residents have faced mounting pressure to accept Russian citizenship or leave. Reports show that since the September deadline, residents without Russian passports have been cut off from healthcare, education, jobs, pensions and even humanitarian aid. Conscription campaigns and cultural suppression further illustrate a strategy of control through fear and indoctrination. These measures reveal what life under Russian occupation truly means.
Independent assessments also show systemic failure of basic services. Health care is degraded by damage to facilities, shortages of medicines and staff, and politicized access. Similar disruption affects education, utilities and social support, and suggests that the Russian occupying authorities are not in effective control.
We call on the Russian Federation to cease its aggression, withdraw its forces, end forced “passportization,” release all arbitrarily detained civilians, and cooperate fully with international monitoring and accountability. We reaffirm our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and for a just and lasting peace consistent with the UN Charter.
Thank you.