“The inflow of weapons and ammunition into any armed battle can contribute to the escalation and presents vital dangers of diversion and proliferation even after the battle has ended,” Izumi Nakamitsu, the Excessive Consultant for Disarmament Affairs, informed the Council, briefing on the newest developments within the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Data by way of open sources on governments’ current arms transfers to Kyiv embrace such heavy weaponry as battle tanks, armoured fight automobiles, fight aircrafts, helicopters, large-calibre artillery methods, missile methods and uncrewed fight aerial automobiles.
Additionally included within the stockpile are remotely operated munitions, small arms and lightweight weapons, and their ammunition, she stated.
Since her June briefing, she stated reviews present that some nations are transferring or planning to switch weapons, together with uncrewed fight aerial automobiles and ammunition, to Russian armed forces to be used in Ukraine.
‘Put an finish to this brutal battle’
“Measures to deal with the chance of diversion of weapons and ammunition to unauthorized end-users and for unauthorized makes use of are important for stopping additional instability and insecurity in Ukraine, the area and past,” she stated.
She referred to as on Member States to contemplate becoming a member of related treaties and agreements, together with the Arms Commerce Treaty, the primary ever legally-binding instrument negotiated on the UN to determine frequent requirements for the worldwide switch of typical weapons.
Turning to battlefield casualties, she stated the rising loss of life toll stays a grave concern.
From 24 February 2022 to 13 August this 12 months, the Workplace of the Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights has recorded 26,384 civilian casualties in Ukraine, with 9,444 killed and 16,940 injured. The precise figures are prone to be “significantly increased”, she stated.
On this vein, she stated the UN strongly condemns assaults in opposition to civilians and civilian infrastructure and calls for his or her instant cessation. Such actions are prohibited beneath worldwide humanitarian regulation, she famous.
“The Russian army offensive in Ukraine, in violation of the UN Constitution and worldwide regulation, is hitting essentially the most weak the toughest,” she stated. “It’s crucial to place an finish to this brutal battle.”
‘Heavier, deadlier, extra provocative’
Additionally briefing the Council, United States journalist Danny Haiphong echoed among the Excessive Consultant’s issues, together with the “staggering” battlefield toll.
“NATO international locations have offered over $40 billion in weapons to Ukraine over the span of the battle, and now we have witnessed these weapons change into heavier, deadlier, and extra provocative, stymying the potential of a negotiated settlement to the battle,” he stated.
Many of those weapons have landed on the black market, to drug cartels, felony organizations, and “neo-Nazi and fascist parts, a lot of which now make up components of the Ukrainian armed forces”, he claimed.
Emphasizing that one of many Safety Council’s major tasks is the upkeep of worldwide peace and stability, he additionally claimed that ongoing arms gross sales to Ukraine violate the UN Constitution, revealing what he characterised because the geopolitical realities that undergird the battle.
“The US and its Western companions should be taught to function inside the framework of worldwide regulation identical to all different Member States or the world will face the continued risk of instability and battle,” he stated.
Russia: Weapon ‘testing’ floor
Russian Deputy Everlasting Consultant Dmitry Polyanskiy stated Ukraine has been become a “testing floor” for weapons, together with arms containing depleted uranium and cluster munitions equipped by London and Washington. Because of this, excessive radiation has been detected in some areas, he added.
The one results of Kyiv’s current counter-offensive is tens of hundreds of deaths of Ukrainian troopers and the destruction of huge quantities of Western weapons, he informed ambassadors. At this level, the complete collapse of the Ukrainian army command has even repelled Western mercenaries, who’re being recruited from all around the world, he stated.
On the similar time, Western weapons have surfaced on the black market the world over, as suppliers ignore obligations to trace such arms. In the meantime, Kyiv has been lowered to “begging for weapons” from Western companions, he added.
Ukraine: ‘Existential battle for survival’
Serhii Dvornyk, Counsellor for Ukraine, stated the continuing battle is “an existential battle for survival”.
“We’ll persevere in our struggle till each Ukrainian citizen and each parcel of our sovereign land are liberated and Russia faces a army defeat in Ukraine,” he stated, including that each one weapons, whether or not produced by Ukraine or acquired from its allies, serve this objective “to outlive and to cease the dictatorship contaminated with insane imperial sentiments”.
From its first tried annexation of Crimea, Russia has “studiously cosplayed the Nazi criminals” – dressing up as Nazis themselves – even “bombing Kyiv within the early hours as Nazis as soon as did”, he stated. “The Third Reich by no means resurged as a result of it was militarily defeated and its political, army, and financial management was dropped at justice.”
A “comparable destiny” is anticipated for Russia, and “the earlier the higher, not just for Ukraine, however for all of us,” he informed the Council.
