Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine continues to have devastating consequences for the civilian population, particularly in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. We discussed today in Brussels, in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council, the grave situation of civilian detainees. We strongly condemn Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and its blatant violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. We reaffirm our strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. Since the start of its war of aggression and attempted illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, Russia continues to suppress dissent and persecute those perceived as a threat to the occupation administrations. Arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence, unlawful deportation to the Russian Federation and forcible transfers to other parts of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, and the denial of fair trial rights and due process guarantees as well as family contact continue to be widely documented including by recent reports by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Civilians, including local officials, journalists, activists, volunteers, religious figures and others, remain subject to politically motivated prosecutions, torture and inhumane detention conditions. Russia prevents independent observers, the press, and the public from gaining access to the temporary occupied territories of Ukraine in order to prevent independent reporting and to cover up its systematic violations of human rights and humanitarian law. We urgently call on Russia and Belarus to ensure the immediate, safe and unconditional return to Ukraine of all arbitrarily detained, unlawfully deported and forcibly transferred Ukrainian civilians, including children. We strongly condemn Russia’s systematic refusal to confirm the identity, location, and fate of Ukrainians held in captivity or reported missing, in violation of its obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and call upon all States to intensify coordinated pressure on Russia to fulfil these obligations without further delay. The International Committee of the Red Cross must be able to fulfil its mandate. It must be ensured that ICRC has access to all places where Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees are held, and contribute to the confirmation of the fate and whereabouts of persons reported missing in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. We reiterate our call to uphold international humanitarian law and human rights law for all prisoners including ceasing the brutal executions and use of torture against prisoners of war and civilian detainees. We reaffirm our commitment to justice and full accountability for international crimes and other violations of international law committed in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. We encourage further sustained efforts within the framework of the Council of Europe towards the operationalisation of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and the International Claims Commission for Ukraine. | 
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