---
title: "Work on Freezing Russia's Powers in the UN General Assembly Has Already Begun"
description: "Ukraine and its partners have started preparations to freeze the powers of the Russian delegation in the UN General Assembly. Former ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko noted this affects the UN Security Council too."
date: 2026-10-29T07:16:24.948Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/work-on-freezing-russias-powers-in-un-general-assembly
tags: [un, russia, ukraine, diplomacy, international-law, zelchenko]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Work on Freezing Russia's Powers in the UN General Assembly Has Already Begun

![Former Ukrainian Ambassador to the UN Volodymyr Yelchenko at a press conference near the UN emblem](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/29/rabota-nad-zamorozkoy-polnomochiy-rossii-v-ga-oon/rabota-nad-zamorozkoy-polnomochiy-rossii-v-ga-oon-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Ukraine and allies have begun work on freezing Russia's UN General Assembly credentials
- Freezing powers in the General Assembly will automatically suspend Russia's work in the Security Council
- The Pylyp Orlyk Foundation is negotiating with foreign countries to support the initiative
- The 1991 procedure of Russia entering the UN is also being challenged on legal grounds

Ukraine and its international allies have launched practical efforts to freeze the powers of the Russian Federation delegation in the UN General Assembly. According to former Ukrainian Ambassador to the US and the UN Volodymyr Yelchenko, if successful, this step will automatically suspend the activities of Russian representatives in the UN Security Council as well.

### Mechanisms and Historical Precedents

According to the Ukrainian diplomat, completely expelling Russia from the United Nations currently appears politically unrealistic, but temporarily restricting its rights is entirely feasible. International practice already contains similar precedents, including the situation with South Africa during the apartheid era. Additionally, in 1956, following the Soviet military intervention in Budapest, the credentials of the Hungarian delegation were frozen for nearly three years. Implementing such a scenario would strip Russian representatives of the ability to officially participate in meetings of key UN bodies.

### Diplomatic Campaign and the Role of the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation

To launch this mechanism, an official letter must be submitted on behalf of Ukraine or a group of partner states demanding that the credentials of the Russian delegation be unrecognized and that the issue be included on the agenda. Volodymyr Yelchenko noted that the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation is currently working actively to build such a coalition. Foundation representatives are already conducting trips and negotiations at governmental, parliamentary, and public levels to secure support from foreign states.

### Legal Grounds and Procedural Issues

The former ambassador emphasizes that the initiators rely not only on Russia's status as an aggressor state, but also on procedural violations in 1991, when Moscow took a seat at the UN bypassing established statutory regulations. According to international lawyers, this argument creates serious legal grounds for revising the status of the Russian delegation. The very preparation of this initiative is already drawing the international diplomatic community's attention back to a problem that had long remained outside active global discussion.

### Significance of the Initiative and International Response

Advancing the issue of freezing Russia's powers could dramatically alter the balance of power at key UN platforms and establish a serious precedent in international law. Although many foreign diplomats admit they had not previously considered this possibility in practical terms, the renewal of discussions brings the problem of the legitimacy of Russia's presence in the organization back into the focus of the global agenda.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Работа над "заморозкой" полномочий России в ГА ООН уже началась, - Ельченко](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/robota-zamorozhennyam-povnovazhen-rosiyi-1793257905.html) - The article is based on an interview with Volodymyr Yelchenko given to RBC-Ukraine regarding plans and mechanisms to freeze Russia's powers in the UN.

## FAQ

### What does freezing Russia's powers in the UN General Assembly mean?

It will suspend the activities of the Russian delegation in the General Assembly and the UN Security Council, stripping it of the right to participate in official meetings.

### What historical precedents does Volodymyr Yelchenko cite?

The diplomat mentions the restriction of South Africa's rights during apartheid and the freezing of the Hungarian delegation's credentials in 1956 after Soviet troops entered Budapest.

### Which organization is promoting this initiative?

Practical work is being carried out by the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation, whose representatives are urging governments and parliamentarians of various countries to support a collective letter.