A/RES/76/70 GA

United Nations A/RES/76/70 General Assembly Distr.: General 16 December 2021 21-18574 (E) 221221 *2118574* Seventy-sixth session Agenda item 35 (a) Prevention of armed conflict: prevention of armed conflict Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 2021 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/76/L.22 and A/76/L.22/Add.1)] 76/70. Problem of the militarization of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, as well as parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov The General Assembly, Recalling the Charter of the United Nations, in which it was stated, inter alia, that all Members of the United Nations shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations, Recalling also its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, in which it approved the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, and the principles contained therein, Mindful of the 1975 Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Declaration on Principles Guiding Relations between Participating States contained therein, Recalling its resolution 68/262 of 27 March 2014 on the territorial integrity of Ukraine, in which it affirmed its commitment to the sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, Recalling also its resolutions 73/194 of 17 December 2018, 74/17 of 9 December 2019 and 75/29 of 7 December 2020 on the problem of the militarization of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, as well as parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, Recalling further its resolutions 71/205 of 19 December 2016, 72/190 of 19 December 2017, 73/263 of 22 December 2018, 74/168 of 18 December 2019 and A/RES/76/70 Problem of the militarization of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, as well as parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov 21-18574 2/5 75/192 of 16 December 2020 on the situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, Gravely concerned that the provisions of those resolutions and relevant decisions of international organizations, specialized agencies and bodies within the United Nations system have not been implemented by the Russian Federation, Recalling its resolution 3314 (XXIX) of 14 December 1974, in the annex to which it was stated, inter alia, that no territorial acquisition or special advantage resulting from aggression is or shall be recognized as lawful, Condemning the ongoing temporary occupation of part of the territory of Ukraine, namely, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (hereinafter referred to as “Crimea”), by the Russian Federation, and reaffirming the non-recognition of its annexation, Recalling that the temporary occupation of Crimea and the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine by the Russian Federation is in contravention of commitments made in the Memorandum on Security Assurances in Connection with Ukraine’s Accession to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (Budapest Memorandum) of 5 December 1994,1 in which, inter alia, the obligations to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine and the commitment to respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine were reaffirmed, Deeply concerned by the illegal seizure and establishment of control by the Russian Federation over the former nuclear weapons storage sites in Crimea, which may pose a threat to regional and global security, Expressing concern over the efforts of the Russian Federation to extend its jurisdiction over the nuclear facilities and material in Crimea, in respect of which the Agreement between Ukraine and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Additional Protocol thereto continue to apply, Expressing concern also about the ongoing deterioration of the international security and arms control architecture, including as a result of the temporary occupation by the Russian Federation of the territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, which has had a destabilizing impact on the international arms control regimes and confidence- and security-building measures, including those established by the Treaty on Open Skies, the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe 2 and the Vienna Document 2011 on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures, and rejecting the attempts by the Russian Federation to advance its narrative about its actions in the temporarily occupied Crimea through the implementation of international arms control regimes, Affirming that the seizure of Crimea by force is illegal and a violation of international law, and affirming also that those territories must be immediately returned, Recalling the prohibition, under international humanitarian law, for the occupying Power to compel protected persons to serve in its armed or auxiliary forces, including through pressure or propaganda that is aimed at securing voluntary enlistment, and condemning the ongoing recruitment and conscription campaigns in __________________ 1 A/49/765-S/1994/1399, annex I. 2 See CD/1064. Problem of the militarization of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, as well as parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov A/RES/76/70 3/5 21-18574 Crimea and criminal prosecutions, which include fines, correctional labour and imprisonment of Crimean residents for draft evasion, Concerned by efforts to use the education of children in Crimea in order to indoctrinate them to join the Russian military forces, Recalling the order of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea of 25 May 2019 on provisional measures in the Case concerning the detention of three Ukrainian naval vessels (Ukraine v. Russian Federation) and Procedural Order No. 1 of the Arbitral Tribunal Constituted under Annex VII to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea between Ukraine and the Russian Federation in respect of a Dispute concerning the Detention of Ukrainian Naval Vessels and Servicemen of 22 November 2019, Noting the fact that security concerns, the unprovoked build-up of forces in and around Ukraine and the holding of Russian military exercises in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov regions, accompanied by closures and restrictions of the lawful exercise of navigational rights and freedoms, further destabilize the economy and social services, particularly in the coastal regions of Ukraine, Supporting the commitment by Ukraine to adhere to international law in its efforts to put an end to the temporary Russian occupation of Crimea, Noting the establishment of the International Crimea Platform and the adoption of the Joint Declaration of the International Crimea Platform Participants,3 1. Urges the Russian Federation, as the occupying Power, immediately, completely and unconditionally to withdraw its military forces from Crimea and end its temporary occupation of the territory of Ukraine without delay; 2. Calls upon all Member States and relevant international organizations to cooperate with the United Nations to encourage and support efforts to put an end to the Russian occupation of Crimea as rapidly as possible and to refrain from any action or dealing with the Russian Federation regarding Crimea that is inconsistent with this aim; 3. Supports commitments and concerted efforts by the international community, including within international frameworks and the International Crimea Platform, to address existing and emerging challenges resulting from the progressive militarization of Crimea and parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, which undermines security and stability in the region and beyond, and supports the peaceful de-occupation of Crimea; 4. Stresses that the presence of Russian troops in Crimea is contrary to the national sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine and undermines the security and stability of neighbouring countries and the European region; 5. Reiterates its grave concern over the progressive militarization of Crimea by the Russian Federation, as the occupying Power, namely the continuing destabilization of Crimea owing to transfers by the Russian Federation of conventional weapons, including advanced weapon systems, battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, nuclear-capable aircraft, helicopters and missiles, as well as small arms and light weapons, ammunition and military personnel, to the territory of Ukraine, and urges the Russian Federation to stop such activity without delay; 6. Calls upon the Russian Federation to engage constructively with confidence- and security-building and risk reduction mechanisms to build __________________ 3 A/76/503-S/2021/908, annex. A/RES/76/70 Problem of the militarization of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, as well as parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov 21-18574 4/5 transparency over its regular military activity in Crimea, which undermines stability, military predictability and trust in the broader region; 7. Condemns the use of seized Ukrainian military industry enterprises in the occupied Crimea by the Russian Federation, including for further development and build-up of forces; 8. Calls upon the Russian Federation to refrain from efforts to extend its jurisdiction over the nuclear facilities and material in Crimea; 9. Expresses its deep concern over the continued conscription by the Russian Federation of the residents of Crimea, including those holding Ukrainian citizenship, into its armed forces, including assignment to military bases in the Russian Federation, and urges the Russian Federation to stop such activity, which contradicts international humanitarian law, without delay; 10. Calls upon the Russian Federation to refrain from establishing educational institutions that provide combat training to Crimean children with the stated aim of training for military service in the Russian armed forces, to refrain from establishing combat training courses at Crimean schools and to cease efforts to formally incorporate Crimean educational institutions into the “military-patriotic” education system of the Russian Federation; 11. Reiterates its concern regarding multiple military exercises of Russian armed forces held in Crimea and parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, which undermine regional security and entail considerable long-term negative environmental consequences in the region; 12. Calls upon the Russian Federation to refrain from unlawful activities in Crimea and parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, including but not limited to interfering and blocking navigation both for commercial vessels going to and from ports of Ukraine and for government ships sailing under various flags, which further exacerbate tensions in the region and beyond; 13. Condemns the construction by the Russian Federation of navy vessels at the seized shipyards in the temporarily occupied Crimea, which further contributes to the build-up of forces and poses a threat to regional security and stability; 14. Expresses its concern over the extension of naval bases for the Black Sea fleet of the Russian Federation in Crimea; 15. Also expresses its concern about the adoption by the Russian Federation of legislation that grants its National Guard the right to block areas adjacent to certain infrastructure facilities in Crimea and parts of the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, and which therefore may be used to interfere with navigational rights in violation of international law; 16. Further expresses its concern over the deployment by the Russian Federation of military and security forces for the protection of the offshore oil platforms located in the Black Sea, which are the property of Ukraine and which have been seized by the Russian Federation, thus excluding Ukraine from its maritime areas, the exploitation by the Russian Federation of the underlying natural resources in those areas and its usurpation of the jurisdiction of Ukraine there; 17. Expresses its utmost concern about the dangerous increase in tensions and the unjustified use of force by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, including the intentional obstruction of traffic; 18. Calls upon the Russian Federation to return to Ukraine unconditionally and without delay all equipment and weapons seized from the vessels Berdyansk, Problem of the militarization of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, as well as parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov A/RES/76/70 5/5 21-18574 Nikopol and the tugboat Yani Kapu during the unjustified use of force by the Russian Federation on 25 November 2018; 19. Encourages further negotiations to ensure the release by the Russian Federation of all illegally detained Ukrainian citizens and their safe return to Ukraine; 20. Calls upon the Russian Federation to refrain from impeding the lawful exercise of navigational rights and freedoms, exercised in accordance with applicable international law, including provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,4 including but not limited to closure of sea areas under the pretext of military exercises, in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait; 21. Condemns the construction and opening by the Russian Federation of the Kerch Strait bridge and the railway bridge, which form a part of the Tavrida highway project, between the Russian Federation and the temporarily occupied Crimea, which facilitates the further militarization of Crimea and restricts the size of vessels that can reach the Ukrainian ports on the Azov coast; 22. Also condemns the increasing military presence of the Russian Federation in parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, including the Kerch Strait, and the harassment by the Russian Federation of commercial vessels and its restriction of international shipping there, which further aggravates the economic and social situation in the broader Donetsk region already affected by the temporary occupation of Crimea and subsequent ongoing destabilizing acts by the Russian Federation; 23. Further condemns visits of Russian officials to the temporarily occupied Crimea, including those in connection with conducting military exercises, military parades and other activities; 24. Calls upon all Member States, as well as international organizations and specialized agencies, to refrain from any visits to Crimea that are not agreed with Ukraine; 25. Decides to continue its consideration of the matter at its seventy-seventh session. 48th plenary meeting 9 December 2021 __________________ 4 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1833, No. 31363.

UN Project. “A/RES/76/70.” UN Project, https://un-project.org/votes/resolution/A-RES-76-70/. Accessed .

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