“There is not a single safe place left in Ukraine” — the UN strongly reacted to Nebenzya’s statement on the “legality” of the annexation of Ukrainian territories

“In the first half of 2026, Ukrainian civilian casualties were a whopping 114 per cent higher than the same 2024 period”, - Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly, said during a session of the UN General Assembly. She cited these shocking figures in response to another manipulation by russia’s Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenzya of international law provisions concerning the supposedly lawful exercise by residents of the occupied territories of Ukraine of the right of peoples to self-determination.

According to the transcript of the session, Ms. Baerbock called on russia to immediately, fully and unconditionally withdraw all its troops. A number of diplomats supported her: they condemned attacks on residential areas and attacks affecting humanitarian workers, including ambulances.

The speakers called for a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire; respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity; as well as additional military support for Ukraine, while simultaneously emphasizing the need for diplomatic efforts.

Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the UN Serhii Kyslytsya called the statements of the russian delegation an absolute lie. He stressed that russia had brought not “self-determination” to Ukrainian soil, but terror, killings and coercion. “When the russian delegation enters the General Assembly, there is a trail of blood left behind. And this hall is filled with the smell of rotting human flesh”.