9 July 2024
I would like to thank, Acting USG Msuya and Mr Zhovnir for their briefings.
As has been the case for previous sessions, large-scale Russian aerial attacks continue across Ukraine, with a sustained targeting of essential infrastructure causing more death, destruction and trauma. Yesterday, the Russian Federation launched another wave of deathly strikes across several regions in Ukraine, at least 40 longrange missiles were fired at targets across the country, killing dozens and wounding over 150 more.
The Ohmatdyt Children’s Hospital, Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital and the main treatment centre in the country for children with cancer, was also hit during these attacks, 12 departments were damaged, and a section of Ukraine’s only oncology and hematology laboratory was completely destroyed. Power, oxygen and water supplies have been lost and people were trapped under the rubble; the exact number of victims is still unknown. The Isida Maternity Hospital located in Ukraine’s capital was also severely damaged due to falling debris.
The Hospital counts with 27 sources of ionizing radiation and is a beneficiary of the IAEA technical cooperation program. This missile attack not only endangers lives but also constitutes a violation of the IAEA’s core principles and values.
We express our condolences to the families who are enduring the unbearable loss of their loved ones and wish a speedy recovery to those injured due to these ruthless attacks across Ukraine.
Health and educational facilities must always be protected to ensure uninterrupted delivery of health and education services to all people in Ukraine. Attacks on civilians and civilian objects must stop. That should be at the centre of our efforts. International humanitarian and human rights law must be respected at all times.
Malta condemns in the strongest possible terms these attacks. We reiterate our call to immediately cease all attacks against hospitals, residential buildings and critical infrastructure in Ukraine, and for all parties to adhere to their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law.
Yesterday’s events took place against the background of Russia’s launch of its new military offensive in the Kharkiv region. According to the WHO there are reports of 18 deaths and 81 injuries from more than 175 attacks on health care infrastructure in Ukraine for the first half of 2024. These attacks have similarly endangered the lives of thousands of children, health-care workers and civilians including the already vulnerable population, notleast the elderly, children and people with disabilities.
Malta reiterates that the perpetrators of these actions must be held accountable for the damage done. We express our full support to the mandate of the International Criminal Court, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, as well as to the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and the work on the establishment of a future compensation mechanism.
In closing, Malta reiterates that the only path to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace and an end this suffering being inflicted on innocent Ukrainians, is for Russia to immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its troops and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.
I thank you.