ALBAWABA - Ukraine's permanent representative to the UN calls on UN members to strip Russia of its permanent membership status in the Security Council.
Andriy Melnyk, Ukraine's representative, stated his country's desire to strip Russia of it's permanent Security Council member status during an open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts, according to the BBC.
The representative stated that Russia's war against Ukraine "stands out for its cruelty and systematic nature of violence committed against the civilian population."
According to the UN Human Rights mission in Ukraine, the number of civilian casualties increased by 21% compared to the same time last year and by 93% compared to 2024.
Describing Russia's tactics, he said that, in winter, Russia systematically targeted civilians by targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure, "to force millions of civilians to submit through cold." He said, in addition to Russian troops using a "double-tap" tactic, where a second attack follows the first one – "only to kill medical personnel and rescuers."
"The first four months of this year have become the deadliest period for the Ukrainian civilian population ever." He added also that: "All legal obligations to protect civilians will ultimately remain empty words if acts of aggression and related war crimes are not punished," calling on Security Council members to find a way to strip Russia of its permanent UN Security Council member status.
