Nordic Statement at the Security Council Arria-Formula meeting

Read the Nordic Statement delivered by H.E. Ms. Heli Lehto, Chargé d'Affaires, Deputy Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations, at the Security Council Arria-Formula meeting, Implementing international humanitarian law: prisoners of war, civilian detainees and foreign fighters, in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, on August 10, 2026.

I have the honour of delivering this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries: Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and my own country, Finland.

Almost four and a half years into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we continue to witness Russia’s systematic and gross violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights.

According to the OHCHR Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, nearly all Ukrainian prisoners of war interviewed after release from Russian captivity reported regular torture, ill-treatment or abuse. We are particularly alarmed by the reports of the extrajudicial killings, which may amount to a war crime.

Russia's use of so-called “filtration” procedures in occupied territories has led to detention of civilians perceived as loyal to Ukraine, including journalists, local leaders and relatives of Ukrainian servicemembers.

The Nordics are deeply concerned by reports that foreign nationals have been recruited into the Russian Armed Forces through deceptive and coercive practices. These findings underscore the global repercussions of Russia’s war of aggression.

The Nordic countries strongly condemn Russia’s war of aggression and call on Russia to uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law, including by treating detainees humanely and with dignity, and granting the ICRC immediate and unimpeded access to all Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees. Arbitrary detention, inhumane treatment and enforced disappearance, are violations of international law and may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Nordic countries remain deeply concerned by reports of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) against Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees in Russian captivity.

We commend Ukraine's efforts to establish survivor-centered CRSV referral mechanisms and to develop expertise in the investigation and prosecution of war crimes. We reaffirm our support to Ukrainian investigators, the International Criminal Court, reparations mechanisms and civil society documentation to ensure full accountability in the context of Russian aggression. The international community should ensure that these lessons are incorporated into accountability processes beyond Ukraine.

The Nordic countries strongly support the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law and its goal to use IHL as a guiding framework to reduce suffering and help steer armed conflicts towards peaceful resolution.  

I thank you.