The UN Deputy High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Adedeji Ebo, briefed the ambassadors and also provided an update on the casualty figures.
Mr. Ebo speak that since the last press conference on June 14, “the provision of military assistance and the transfer of weapons and ammunition to the armed forces of Ukraine has continued in the context of the full-scale invasion of that country, launched by the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022, in violation of uncharted and international law.”
According to public information, the transfers are said to include heavy conventional weapons such as battle tanks, armored fighting vehicles and helicopters, as well as light and small arms, anti-personnel mines and cluster bombs.
“In addition, there are reports of countries transferring or planning to transfer weapons such as drones, ballistic missiles and ammunition to the Russian armed forces, and these weapons have been used in Ukraine,” he said.
Weapons and conflict escalation
He stressed that the introduction of weapons and ammunition into areas of armed conflict could contribute to escalation. It also posed a significant risk of diversion and proliferation, even after the fighting had ended.
“Any transfer of arms and ammunition must take place in accordance with the applicable international legal framework, including of course relevant laws. Security Council “Resolutions,” he said.
Measures to address the risk of diversion of arms are key to preventing further destabilization and insecurity in Ukraine, he told the Council. They are also vital to post-conflict recovery.
He recalled that last month, countries met to review progress in implementation. United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons and its International Monitoring Instrument.
They also adopted, by consensus, measures to prevent, combat and eliminate illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons within the period up to 2030.
He called on States to implement these and other relevant commitments, as well as their obligations under other instruments, to prevent diversion of arms and regulate the international arms trade.
The death toll could be higher.
Turning to the issue of casualties, Mr. Ebo said 11,430 people have been killed in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began and 23,228 have been injured, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). However, the actual figure could be much higher.
OHCHR also reported that 72 percent of civilian casualties in June occurred from shelling, multiple rocket launchers and aerial bombing, while just over a quarter – 26 percent – were from rockets and unguided munitions attacks.
Furthermore, the number of child casualties in June was the highest so far this year, which he described as extremely worrying.
“The use of armed drones and missiles continues to cause civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure,” he said.
“In addition, there are reports of an increasing number of cross-border attacks using Ukrainian missiles and drones inside the Russian Federation, some of which, according to Russian authorities, have reportedly caused civilian casualties.”
Mr. Ebo called on all parties to refrain from actions that could endanger civilians.
He stressed that the United Nations will continue to work towards peace in Ukraine “in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Charter and relevant General Assembly resolutions.”
