The tension is very present Tuesday at the UN Security Council, while the conflict in Ukraine continues and continues to tense international relations. On Tuesday, the Ukrainian ambassador to the UN intervened to denounce the sexual violence committed by the Russian army in his country. Charges that logically did not please his Russian counterpart, who immediately defended himself. “The accusations of sexual violence against the Russian army have become repetitive (…) but no proof has been provided”, replied Vassily Nebenzia. “Be more careful because there is no proof of these claims from kyiv”.
Visibly irritated by this exchange, Charles Michel, President of the European Council, then took the floor. “We hear reports that Russian troops are using sexual violence as a weapon of war,” he began. “Sexual violence is a war crime. A crime against humanity. A tactic of torture, terror and oppression. These crimes will be punished, we need evidence and we help to gather it. You can leave the room, it’s easier not to hear the truth”.
This tackle led to the departure of the ambassador, who was replaced by his deputy.