Moscow, October 17, 2026 – The Europe Today: Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has accused the United Nations Human Rights Council, UNESCO and other international bodies of failing to address alleged crimes by the Ukrainian government, claiming that their actions undermine their impartiality amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In an interview with Izvestia, reported by TASS on October 17, Zakharova said the organisations had failed to adequately address what Moscow describes as crimes committed by the Kyiv authorities against Ukrainian citizens and Russians.
She alleged that these institutions were, in effect, becoming part of what Russia characterises as an undeclared war by Western countries against Moscow.
Zakharova said the credibility and future role of these international bodies would depend on their willingness to consider Russia’s arguments and the evidence it presents.
She identified the response to a report submitted by Russia to an international public tribunal concerning alleged falsification of evidence related to the events in Bucha as a forthcoming test of the organisations’ approach.
The Russian diplomat also expressed confidence in the professionalism and impartiality of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
According to Zakharova, the court had issued decisions rejecting Ukrainian claims against Russia involving allegations of terrorism, racial discrimination and violations of the Genocide Convention.
She added that proceedings concerning allegations of genocide by Ukraine in the Donbas region remained under consideration, stating that Russia had submitted what it described as supporting evidence and was awaiting a verdict.
The remarks reflect Moscow’s continuing criticism of international institutions and its efforts to challenge Ukraine’s legal claims and present its own allegations through international legal and diplomatic channels.
The allegations made by Zakharova represent the Russian government’s position and should be distinguished from independently established judicial findings.
