Russia's efforts to erase Ukrainian identity and culture will fail: UK statement to the OSCE
Ambassador Holland marks Ukraine's Independence Day and condemns Russia's efforts to eradicate Ukrainian identity through its illegal war of aggression.
Thank you, Madam Chair.聽Last Saturday we marked two milestones:聽30 months since Russia launched its illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine and 33 years since the Ukrainian people chose independence.聽The contrast between these two events could not be greater.
President Putin鈥檚 illegal war is a story of desperation and attempted subjugation, the latest chapter of which has been the massive barrage launched on Ukraine鈥檚 cities and energy infrastructure last night. Ukraine鈥檚 independence story, however, is one of values; of hope and freedom.聽Ukraine鈥檚 Act of Declaration of Independence received overwhelming support across the country.聽It received broad international recognition, including from President Yeltsin.聽In contrast, Russia鈥檚 war has resulted in sham referenda that received almost no international recognition.聽And because the Ukrainian people, and the majority of the world, stand united behind Ukraine鈥檚 sovereignty, its independence will endure, while this illegal war will ultimately fail.
Madam Chair, following Russia鈥檚 illegal full-scale invasion, which is a violation of the UN Charter and OSCE principles, Ukrainians are fighting for their land and their centuries-old identity. Russia has tried to erase Ukrainian identity and culture through a systematic effort of repression.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russian attacks have damaged as many as 400 cultural sites, including religious sites, museums, and other cultural property.聽Russian forces are believed to have stolen more than 28,000 artworks and artefacts from the Kherson Regional Museum. In May, a Russian missile destroyed one of the largest printing houses in Europe, Factor Druk in Kharkiv, destroying 50,000 books.
These attacks on Ukraine鈥檚 past and its present are abhorrent, but we are seeing evidence that Russia is also targeting Ukraine鈥檚 future.聽Thousands of Ukrainian children have been taken from their families, forcibly deported from their homes and subjected to targeted re-education in an attempt to sever their link with their homeland.聽The independent OSCE Moscow Mechanism report on this issue concluded that Russia鈥檚 actions constitute violations of international humanitarian law, international human rights law and, in some cases, war crimes.
Madam Chair, Ukraine鈥檚 culture is important in its own right but also significant for what it represents.聽Now more so than ever, it stands as a symbol of resilience and resistance. Ukrainian national identity burns brightly despite Russia鈥檚 efforts to steal artefacts, re-educate children and eliminate national traditions.聽And Ukraine鈥檚 identity 鈥� forged in the face of adversity and hardship 鈥� will endure.聽For this reason, I look forward to 2025, when we will again celebrate Ukraine鈥檚 independence, resilience and national identity, and I hope we can do so without needing to remark on another milestone in this senseless and illegal war.
Madam chair, before I conclude, we are deeply saddened by the news that a British national media worker has died following a Russian strike on a hotel in Kramatorsk.聽Our thoughts are with his family, and we join all those who are mourning their loved ones as a result of this war.聽Thank you.