EU Statement on the Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, OSCE Permanent Council No. 1583 - Vienna, 29 October 2026

1. The latest report of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, published on 26 October 2026, concludes that Russia’s systematic attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity as they deliberately targeted civilian facilities under a state policy aimed at depriving civilians of essential services. As winter approaches, Russia continues to strike Ukraine’s energy system, causing damage and power cuts across several regions, including Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Odesa, Poltava, Volyn and Rivne. 

2. Last week alone, Russia launched around 1,600 guided aerial bombs, 48 missiles of various types, including ballistic missiles, and nearly 2,300 attack drones against Ukraine. These large-scale combined missile and drone attacks against Ukraine have killed and injured civilians, including first responders, and damaged residential areas, energy and transport infrastructure, medical and educational facilities, commercial sites, grain storage facilities and logistics hubs. We strongly condemn them and demand that Russia immediately and unconditionally cease its aggression, withdraw all its forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine, and fully respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. 

3. We are also deeply alarmed by Russia’s continued escalation in the Black Sea, which affects maritime security and undermines global food security. We strongly condemn repeated attacks on civilian vessels, including the attack on 23 October against the cargo ship Khoryv, carrying Ukrainian and Azerbaijani crew, in Romania’s exclusive economic zone, and the drone attack against a container ship in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone on 28 October. Such attacks are unacceptable and constitute a serious violation of international and maritime law, including UNCLOS.

Mr Chair,

4. Behind every Russian missile striking Ukraine, there is a supply chain that makes its production possible. The EU’s latest sanctions target 1,569 individuals and entities linked to Russia’s military-industrial complex, to disrupt weapons production and limit Moscow’s ability to sustain its attacks. We will continue to increase pressure on Russia and unwaveringly support Ukraine.

5. We also reiterate our call on all countries to immediately cease any assistance to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine, whether direct or indirect, and notably through the provision of dual-use goods and components. In particular, we strongly condemn the deployment of the DPRK’s military forces in the war against Ukraine as well as the continued military support provided to Russia by Iran, Belarus and the DPRK, among others.

6. The European Union supports a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law and underpinned by robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine. We support all diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving such a peace and urge Russia to agree to a full, unconditional and immediate ceasefire and to engage seriously in meaningful negotiations. 

7. Humanitarian relief efforts and confidence-building measures, notably the exchange of prisoners of war and the return of unlawfully deported Ukrainian children and civilian detainees, including the three OSCE staff members — Vadym Golda, Maksym Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov, must continue as part of the pathway to peace. While we welcome the latest exchange of prisoners of war, which brought 270 Ukrainians home, some of whom had been in captivity since 2022, we remind Russia that it must fully comply with international humanitarian law in its treatment of prisoners of war.

8. We welcome the immediate localised ceasefire in temporarily occupied Oleshky. It is crucial that the ceasefire is upheld. Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, around 24,000 people lived in Oleshky. By July 2026, Ukrainian authorities estimated that just 2,000 remained. Those still trapped in the Russian-occupied city have been facing acute shortages of food, water and medicine, with humanitarian deliveries cut off and no safe means of escape. It is important to establish humanitarian corridors that allow people to relocate to areas of their choice.

9. We remain committed to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. ODIHR, through its monitoring activities, and the OSCE human dimension mechanisms make important contributions to that end. The OSCE plays and will continue to play a role in view of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.