HRC63 - NB8 Statement - ID with Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine

Human Rights Council 63rd Session
Item 4: Interactive Dialouge with Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine (oral update)
Joint Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic States Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden
21 September 2026

President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic states. We thank the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine for the oral update and for their continued documentation of the human rights violations and violations of humanitarian law resulting from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russia’s repeated and systematic attacks on Ukraine’s energy and water infrastructure continue to worsen the already deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ukraine, having devastating effects on all aspects of civilian life. Continued reports of such attacks show Russia’s blatant disregard for international human rights law and international humanitarian law. Civilian population and civilian infrastructure must be protected.

Further, reports of Russia’s coercive and exploitative practices in recruiting foreign nationals into armed forces are concerning, with many cases that may amount to human trafficking. We call on Russia to cease all abusive practices involving the military recruitment of foreign nationals and their ill treatment in training centres and at the front line.

Lastly, we condemn in the strongest terms the imposition of patriotic and military education on children in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine.

We continue to stand in solidarity with Ukraine and support all efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.

I thank you.