The European Union has condemned in the strongest possible terms the latest wave of Russian missile and drone attacks against Ukraine, which have inflicted a devastating toll on civilians and caused serious damage to civilian infrastructure, according to a statement delivered at the OSCE Permanent Council No. 1573 on 16 July 2026. The EU noted that repeated large-scale strikes have hit densely populated residential areas in Kyiv, Sumy, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv and other cities, and that according to the United Nations these attacks have contributed to the highest verified monthly civilian casualty toll since the early months of Russia's full-scale invasion.
The statement, published by the EEAS on 17 July 2026, also highlighted deeply alarming continued targeting of humanitarian and medical facilities, which the EU said are blatant violations of international humanitarian law. It cited specific strikes on 2 and 12 July in the Kherson and Kharkiv regions that damaged hospitals and disrupted medical care, attacks on 7 and 8 July in Kyiv that damaged an ambulance station and injured medical personnel, and the destruction of a Ukrainian Red Cross humanitarian warehouse on 10 and 11 July. The EU referenced Médecins Sans Frontières' latest report, No Safe Place to Heal, which documents relentless attacks on healthcare and medical personnel in Ukraine that appear to constitute a deliberate strategy to destroy the medical system.
The EU again called on Russia to end its war of aggression immediately, agree to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire, and demonstrate genuine political will by engaging in meaningful negotiations towards a just and lasting peace. It urged all countries to immediately cease any assistance to Russia in its war of aggression, whether direct or indirect, notably through the provision of dual-use goods and components. The EU strongly condemned the deployment of the DPRK's military forces in the war against Ukraine as well as continued military support provided to Russia by Iran, Belarus and the DPRK, among others.
The European Union reaffirmed its commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine grounded in international law, the principles of the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act, stating that there can be no just or durable peace that rewards aggression. The EU and its Member States remain ready to contribute to robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine, in line with international law and their respective competences and capabilities. The EU also reiterated its commitment to providing sustained and comprehensive support for Ukraine combined with increased pressure on Russia, noting that latest restrictive measures together with the upcoming 21st sanctions package will add 250 individuals and entities to the sanctions list targeting Russia.
The EU expressed determination to pursue accountability, citing findings of the independent report under the Moscow Mechanism on indoctrination and militarization of Ukrainian children and of ODIHR's ninth interim report as devastating, confirming previous findings of systemic and widespread violations of international law by Russia. It called on Russia to implement without delay the recommendations of the Moscow Mechanism report and immediately facilitate the safe return of all deported and forcibly transferred Ukrainian children. The OSCE, the EU said, plays and will continue to play a role in view of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
The statement also noted that 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, with thousands of Ukrainian civilians remaining in captivity. The EU again called on Russia to release immediately and unconditionally all unlawfully detained civilians, including the three OSCE staff members Vadym Golda, Maksym Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov, and to comply fully with international humanitarian and human rights law.
Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino, and Ukraine aligned themselves with the statement.