Russian aggression against Ukraine has led to increased risks of human trafficking, Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Ministry Serhiy Kyslytsia has said.

"Three years of Russian aggression against Ukraine have led to increased risks of human trafficking in Ukraine. We have also seen numerous cases of human trafficking and forced labor — and even slavery — in certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions outside the control of the government," deputy foreign minister said in New York at the Security Council Ministerial Open Debate on "Trafficking in persons in conflict situations."

Kyslytsia said that Ukraine supports international efforts to combat all forms of human rights abuses and violations in conflict and post-conflict situations. According to him, Ukraine remains strongly committed to eradicating trafficking and the fight against this horrendous phenomenon is on the top of the agenda of the Ukrainian government activities in the field of human rights.

Ukraine's representative at the UN said that the situation is complicated by the 400 kilometer section of the state border with the Russian Federation, which is out of Ukraine’s control and widely used for the inflow of weapons, ammunition and fighters into the zone of conflict. The victims and perpetrators of trafficking in persons are also moving across this uncontrolled section of the border, he added.

"In this regard, we have to be aware that Russia does not have comprehensive mechanisms for effective investigation, prosecution and punishment of perpetrators according to the Convention against Trafficking in Human Beings. Today, among all member-states of the Council of Europe, only Russia has not joined this Convention, Kyslytsia said.

More than 70 delegations took part in the debate.