Braže at UN Security Council: Russia Is Committing Genocide in Ukraine

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže (New Unity party) chaired a United Nations Security Council meeting on the war in Ukraine in New York on 9 November and stated that Russia is carrying out genocide in Ukraine. Latvia holds the council presidency in November, and the Foreign Ministry said the meeting was called at Ukraine's request in response to stepped-up Russian attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure.

Civilian casualties and children

Braže said Russia's actions show an intent to destroy Ukraine's sovereignty and the Ukrainian nation itself. She cited data from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission: the number of Ukrainian civilians killed and injured in 2026 is more than double the figure recorded two years earlier.

She said about 1.6 million children remain in Russian-occupied territories. The minister cited a finding by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) that state-run indoctrination takes place at all levels of the school system, and pointed to the militarisation of children. According to her, Russia has forcibly transferred 20,651 Ukrainian children to its own territory or areas it controls, which she called a war crime.

Braže also referred to cases of sexual violence against women and girls documented by the UN. The oldest registered victim was 82 years old, and the youngest survivor was four.

Attacks on infrastructure and the grain corridor

The minister said Ukraine faces its fifth winter of war, with attacks on energy infrastructure, hospitals and civilian buildings at their highest intensity since the war began. She also said Russia has closed the Black Sea grain corridor and called for it to be reopened.

Appeals and security issues

Braže demanded an immediate ceasefire so that upcoming talks in Abu Dhabi could succeed, and stressed that lasting peace in Europe cannot be achieved without full European involvement. She recalled that the UN Charter prohibits changing borders by force and said Russia attacked these principles in 2022.

She described growing technological cooperation between Russia, Iran and North Korea, including in unmanned systems, as a serious threat, recalled airspace violations of NATO countries, and rejected Russian claims that NATO members allow their airspace to be used for drone attacks on Russia. She urged the council to call on Russia for a full and unconditional ceasefire.