Melnyk at UN Security Council calls for stripping russia of permanent membership due to aggression against Ukraine

Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Andrii Melnyk has called for finding a mechanism to strip russia of its permanent membership of the Security Council due to its aggression against Ukraine and the systematic nature of violence against the civilian population.

He made this statement during the open debate of the UN Security Council on May 19, Ukrinform reports.

Melnyk stressed that the russian aggression against Ukraine “is characterized by the brutality and systematic nature of the violence committed against the civilian population.” And, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, from January to April 2026, the number of civilian casualties increased by 21% compared to the same period last year and by 93% compared to 2024.

“The first four months of this year have become the deadliest period for the Ukrainian civilian population ever,” the diplomat said, adding that the russian federation has intensified missile and drone terror, as it is no longer able to achieve success on the battlefield.

He drew attention to the systematic attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in winter, the tactic of double strikes “only to kill medical personnel and rescue workers,” and deliberate drone strikes on civilians on the streets, as well as ambulances and humanitarian transport.

Melnyk also pointed to the “catastrophically intolerable situation” created by russia in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, citing arbitrary detentions, torture and enforced disappearances. In addition, more than 20,000 Ukrainian children have been illegally deported or forcibly displaced by russia, and most are being subjected to “indoctrination, militarization and attempts to erase their Ukrainian identity.”

The Permanent Representative expressed the hope that russia will be included in the next annual report of the UN Secretary-General as a party that systematically engages in conflict-related sexual violence.

“All legal obligations to protect civilians will ultimately remain empty words if acts of aggression and related war crimes are not punished,” Melnyk stressed.

He called on the members of the Security Council and all UN member states to “confront this grotesque reality” and find a way to deprive russia of its permanent membership in the Security Council.

As a reminder, the UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting on May 19 due to the escalation of attacks by the aggressor state of russia on Ukraine following Melnyk’s letter to the UN Security Council President regarding the intensification of russian attacks in recent weeks on the civilian population and critical infrastructure of Ukraine.