Andrii Melnyk, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, has urged the UN to bar Russian personnel from participating in peacekeeping and policing missions. He stated that Russia should consider leaving the United Nations altogether.
During a Security Council meeting, Melnyk criticized the remarks made by Russia’s UN envoy, Vasily Nebenzya, regarding a report by the UN Secretary-General on sexual violence related to conflicts.
Melnyk pointed out that Russia has dismissed findings from independent international mechanisms, despite documented instances of sexual violence committed by Russian military personnel. He noted that Russian armed forces have been mentioned for the third consecutive time in the Secretary-General’s report on children and armed conflict, and have been included in a list of parties involved in sexual violence during conflicts.
“The military forces that the Secretary-General has once again included in the list for sexual violence related to conflict cannot and should not participate in any operations under the UN flag. Russian personnel must be prohibited from engaging in UN peacekeeping and policing missions,” Melnyk stated.
He further expressed that if Russia continues to reject decisions made by the General Assembly and the findings of UN bodies, it may be time for the country to exit the organization. “Perhaps it is time to say goodbye and leave the UN,” he added.
In late May, the United Nations included both Russia and Israel in its annual “blacklist” of parties responsible for sexual violence during armed conflicts for the first time.
Andrii Melnyk, Ukraine's UN representative, has called for Russia to be excluded from UN peacekeeping efforts, citing documented cases of sexual violence by Russian forces. He suggested that Russia should consider leaving the UN if it continues to reject the organization's decisions.