By targeting civilians, Russia is deliberately violating IHL [fr]

Mr. President,

I thank Mrs. Di Carlo and Mrs. Brown for their presentations.
Eight months after launching its war of aggression, Russia has crossed a new threshold. It has been indiscriminately shelling Ukrainian cities for the past 10 days, deliberately choosing to strike civilian infrastructure, especially energy infrastructure, in Kiev, in Soumy, in Dniepro. It no longer even tries to conceal the crimes of which it is guilty.
Russia is violating the founding principles of the United Nations Charter and the norms that flow from it: the prohibition of aggression, the peaceful settlement of disputes, the sovereignty of states and respect for territorial integrity. The UN General Assembly has unequivocally and overwhelmingly condemned these violations of our Charter.

By targeting civilians, Russia is deliberately violating international humanitarian law. It seeks in vain to break the morale of the Ukrainian nation. By indiscriminately striking cities, Russia seeks to terrorize. By destroying essential civilian infrastructure, especially in the energy sector, it intends to cause electricity and heating shortages with the onset of winter. It is counting on the suffering of civilians, including women, children and the elderly. All of Ukraine’s partners are on its side. France has already mobilized resources to help Ukraine this winter.

Mr. President,

We urge Russia to comply with international humanitarian law and to allow humanitarian actors access to civilian populations in the territories it claims to occupy, as well as to prisoners of war, including those held in captivity in Russia. We are particularly concerned about their fate.

The abuses and destruction resulting from this aggression may constitute war crimes, and the perpetrators will have to answer for their actions. On September 22, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, reiterated before this Council that there will be no impunity for the criminals. The International Criminal Court must move forward, quickly, in its work, by tracing the chain of responsibility as far back as it can. France, along with many of its partners, supports the collection of evidence by the investigative mechanisms, both national and international jurisdictions.

Mr. President,

It is now well documented that the Russian armed forces are using Iranian drones in Ukraine, in particular to indiscriminately bomb civilian infrastructure. Iran’s provision of this equipment to Russia is a violation of Resolution 2231, as we and our German and British partners have stated in a letter to members of this Council today. The European Union yesterday adopted new sanctions against Iranian entities and individuals involved in the production and transfer of these drones. France supports Ukraine’s call for the Secretariat to investigate and report back to Council members in accordance with its mandate. France calls on Iran to immediately cease all forms of support for the war of aggression launched by Russia against Ukraine. It calls on Russia and Iran to stop violating Resolution 2231.

France also condemns the complicity of Belarus, whose territory continues to be used for missile and drone strikes against Ukraine.
Finally, Mr. President,
The vote of the General Assembly last week was without appeal: Russia is alone, and massively condemned by the international community.

Ukraine, on the other hand, has the strength of international solidarity. We will continue to provide the Ukrainian people with all the humanitarian, economic and military support they need to exercise their right to self-defense and preserve their freedom, as long as necessary.

Thank you.