EU Statement – UN Security Council Arria-formula Meeting: Prisoners of war, civilian detainees and foreign fighters, in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine

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Excellencies, dear colleagues,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, as well as Andorra, align themselves with this statement.

I thank Latvia, the UK and Ukraine for calling this meeting and I thank all five briefers for their powerful testimony. Four and a half years into Russia's full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, the humanitarian consequences continue to deepen dramatically.

According to the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, in the first six months of 2026, 1,396 civilians have been killed; and 7,978 injured. This is 37% higher than in the same period in 2025 and 114% higher than in 2024. Russia's relentless and escalating large-scale missile and drone attacks, including strikes targeting residential areas and civilian infrastructure, are tormenting Ukraine daily.

Overwhelming evidence demonstrates that Russia continues to violate the Geneva Conventions, in total disregard for International Humanitarian Law. Its widespread and systematic practice of arbitrarily detaining Ukrainian civilians in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and within the Russian Federation is unacceptable and must be condemned.

Civilians have been deprived of their liberty simply for expressing pro-Ukrainian views, carrying out their professional duties, participating in peaceful civic activities, or refusing to cooperate with the occupying authorities.

There are credible reports of enforced disappearances, incommunicado detention, torture, sexual violence, denial of due process and unlawful transfers. Thousands of Ukrainian civilians remain in Russian captivity, while the fate and whereabouts of many others remain unknown. Russia systematically continues to refuse to provide information on detainees to their families and to international humanitarian organisations, prolonging the suffering of relatives. Under international law, families have the right to know the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones. Civilians may only be interned in exceptional measures under the Fourth Geneva Convention and must be released as soon as the reasons necessitating their internment no longer exist.

In its report of September 2025, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, Mariana Katzarova, whose mandate the EU fully supports, drew attention to the widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment in the Russian Federation affecting Russian citizens, Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees by Russian law enforcement officials, security forces, penitentiary officials and members of the armed forces.

In the Secretary-General's 2025 report on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, Russian armed and security forces are listed for the first time for committing conflict-related sexual violence against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war in the context of its war of aggression against Ukraine.

The European Union reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all civilians arbitrarily detained by Russia. Pending their release, they must be treated humanely, protected from torture and other ill-treatment, and afforded all guarantees provided under international law. We also specifically call on Russia to immediately ensure the safe and unconditional return of all unlawfully deported and transferred Ukrainian children, as also requested by the General Assembly in its December 2025 resolution.

The situation of Ukrainian Prisoners of War in Russian captivity remains equally alarming. All prisoners of war without any discrimination are entitled to the protections of the Third Geneva Convention. Yet, the United Nations has consistently documented Russia's widespread and systematic use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment of Prisoners of War. Former detainees have described severe beatings, electric shocks, mock executions, prolonged stress positions, sexual violence, denial of adequate food and medical care, and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Reports of summary executions of captured Ukrainian soldiers have become increasingly frequent and constitute grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, amounting to war crimes.

Russia must immediately cease these violations, fully and unconditionally comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law and cooperate with international humanitarian actors.

The International Committee of the Red Cross must be enabled to fulfil its mandate. It must be ensured that ICRC has access to all places where Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees are held and contribute to the confirmation of the fate and whereabouts of persons reported missing, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.

Colleagues,

The EU also strongly condemns Russia's deceitful recruitment of third country citizens, including many from African and Latin American countries, to fight in its illegal and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine and to work in its military industry. Over 3500 foreign nationals are independently confirmed to have died fighting for Russia. The EU will continue to engage with affected countries and Ukraine on this matter.

Furthermore, the EU strongly condemns DPRK-Russia military cooperation, including arms transfers and the deployment of DPRK troops in support of Russia's war of aggression. These activities constitute a serious breach of international law, including the UN Charter, and a flagrant violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions that Russia itself supported. The DPRK and Russia must immediately cease their illegal military cooperation.

The European Union will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes, in pursuit of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law. We reaffirm our commitment to justice and full accountability for international crimes and other violations of international law committed in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

1. North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.