Committee on Foreign Affairs adopts a statement condemning Russia’s terrorist attack on the Nova Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant

Press release, 23 June 2023

On 23 June 2023, the Committee on Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the aggression and environmental damage caused by war crimes of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, strongly condemning the Russian Federation’s attack on the Nova Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and continued military aggression as well as war crimes against sovereign Ukraine and its people.

‘The entire international community is shocked by Russia’s cold-blooded terrorist act against the Nova Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and other civilian infrastructure and civilians. Apart from wreaking damage on Ukraine’s nature, this has also caused a major environmental crisis that will have an impact on soil degradation and future changes in flora and fauna: this is the biggest ecological catastrophe in Ukraine since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986,’ said Marius Matijošaitis, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The statement stresses that the intentional attack by the Russian Federation on the Nova Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, the killing of civilians targeted by the rescue effort and volunteers contributing to rescue operations, as well as the attack on civilian infrastructure are war crimes and crimes against humanity, for which the perpetrators shall face legal liability.

‘We call on the international community to assist Ukraine in thoroughly documenting the crimes committed by the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine and to engage in international legal processes regarding the international crimes committed by Russia and its ally Belarus. We reiterate our call on the international community to actively and urgently support the establishment of a Special International Criminal Tribunal for investigation of the crime of aggression with a view to holding the aggressor fully liable. Neither Putin nor the troops who fulfil the commands have the right to avoid responsibility – all the perpetrators must be convicted,’ said Žygimantas Pavilionis, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The Committee calls for new or additional sanctions against Russia for its military attacks against the environment and, jointly with its partners, proposes to suspend the participation of the Russian Federation in the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. The statement calls on the international community not only to provide further military support, but also to lay out financial support to Ukraine and countries facing food shortages as a result of the environmental crimes committed by Russia.

The full text of the statement is available HERE.

Office of the Committee on Foreign Affairs