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STATEMENT BY THE DELEGATION OF UKRAINE As delivered by Ms Viktoria Kuvshynnykova, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna 1580th meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council Agenda Item 2, “The Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine” (8 October 2026)
Mr Chairperson, Week after week, Russia continues to escalate its war of aggression against Ukraine, intensifying attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, deepening the suffering of the Ukrainian people, and undermining any genuine effort towards peace. Since the last meeting of this Council, Russian forces have carried out a series of large- scale strikes across multiple regions of Ukraine. The most recent such attack took place just yesterday. It involved a total of 130 drones, as well as almost 50 cruise and ballistic missiles, launched overnight against several cities and regions across Ukraine. Among the most affected were the city of Kyiv, as well as Chernihiv, Poltava and Kirovohrad regions. The attack claimed the lives of more than 25 civilians, including children, while almost 100 others were injured. In the city of Pryluky, in the Chernihiv region alone, 22 civilians, including 5 children, were killed, and further 54 people, indulging 7 children, were injured, after a five-storey residential building was hit by the Russian Kh-101 missile. The number of casualties may rise as the rescue operation is ongoing. At the same time, Russian forces continue to expand the range of targets they strike. Following attacks on food depots, retail chains, pharmacy warehouses and vital databases, bridges across the Dnipro River in Kyiv are now also being targeted. The scale and timing of these attacks are particularly concerning. Over the past few days, Russia has struck two Kyiv bridges six times, including while civilian traffic was using them and metro trains were crossing. And this escalation is not limited to transport infrastructure. As winter approaches, Russia is once again turning to its strategy of energocide. On 30 September, Russia launched its first large-scale combined missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since the end of the previous heating season, targeting energy facilities in Kyiv, the Kyiv region, and other parts of Ukraine. Taken together, these attacks demonstrate the breadth of Russia’s campaign against Ukrainian cities and civilian life. They are causing catastrophic damage to civilian infrastructure and having a profound impact on people’s lives. As Minister Sybiha underlined, this marks a new chapter in Russia’s campaign of all-day terror against civilians. 2
Excellencies, While targeting Ukrainian civilians, Russia is also continuing its efforts to expand the war, intensifying its attacks on border infrastructure. On 5 October, Russian forces attacked a checkpoint on the border between Ukraine and Moldova. And this was not an isolated incident. Previous strikes have also targeted infrastructure on the borders with Poland and Romania. The situation in the Black Sea remains particularly tense too. This week, two merchant vessels were struck by drones in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. One sank, while another caught fire, forcing 18 crew members to abandon ship. This came just one day after Russia attacked a Turkish-owned civilian vessel carrying food through the Black Sea, killing its captain. By doing so, Russia is clearly seeking to undermine freedom of navigation across the western Black Sea. It is creating a dangerous chain of consequences. By attacking civilian ships, it makes navigation more difficult and more dangerous. This, in turn, drives up risks, insurance premiums, and transport costs, while threatening the flow of food to global markets. At the same time, as Russia intensifies its war, its rhetoric is becoming increasingly reckless and aggressive. This sends a clear message from Moscow: it is not prepared to stop, and has no genuine interest in a negotiated resolution. One example is the renewal of threats against foreign diplomats in Kyiv. Russia’s threats against diplomatic officials in Ukraine are unacceptable. We are grateful to all our foreign colleagues who remain and work in Ukraine during these challenging times, and refuse to yield to Russian intimidation. Against this backdrop, the recent intensification of Russia’s nuclear sabre- rattling, including direct threats to use nuclear weapons, is particularly concerning. Instead of seeking ways to de-escalate, the Russian leadership is further jeopardising international peace and security.
Mr Chairperson, Time and again, Russia’s response to peace efforts has been the same: an intensification of terror. Available information indicates that Russia is preparing new large-scale strikes. This must be stopped. The aggressor state must be deprived of the instruments it uses to terrorise Ukraine. It must be denied every opportunity to continue its war. It must be left with no other choice but to stop. Russia often claims that it is open to a diplomatic resolution, but insists that such a resolution must address the so-called root causes. Let us be honest: the only root cause of the current situation is Russia’s imperial ambitions, combined with its obsession with territorial conquest. And that root cause must indeed be addressed. Thank you, Mr Chairperson.