Today, on World Children’s Day, we are reminded of the Ukrainian children who have become victims of Russia’s illegal invasion and imperialist warmongering.
Of the nearly 53,000 verified civilian casualties from the start of the full-scale invasion, more than 3,000 have been children. These figures don’t include the attack two nights ago which reportedly killed a further 26 people, including three children.
Russia has destroyed 358 educational institutions through aerial bombardments, and damaged a further 3,161. Just last month as we’ve heard, Russian strikes hit a kindergarten in Kharkiv.
These attacks are part of a larger pattern. Russia ramping up its attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure, directly resulting in even greater humanitarian crisis as winter sets in. Since May, Russia has launched the 32 largest air attacks of the entire war. The latest UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine report has concluded that Russia’s repeated attacks with short-range drones against civilians amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes.
But aerial attacks are not the only threat that Ukrainian children face. The Russian government has forcibly transferred children from their homes and communities. This is a naked attempt to erase Ukrainian identity, and with it, Ukraine’s future.
Let’s be clear these actions are signs of desperation. Russia’s victory is not inevitable. They have been throwing everything at Ukraine but have made only minor territorial gains in the past four years.
And Russia’s losses are unsustainable. Over a million soldiers have been killed or wounded. The the cost of war for Russia is mounting military spending has increased to $159 billion this year, over a third of their total budget – money that could be spent on the wellbeing of their citizens.
Yet while the rest of the world calls for a ceasefire, Russia refuses. Since March, President Zelenskyy has offered an unconditional ceasefire, but President Putin has repeatedly shown that he is not serious about ending this war.
Everyone in this chamber has taken on the responsibility to uphold international peace and security; everyone in this chamber should do everything in their power to pressure Russia to agree a ceasefire.
