This week, Russia lost elections to three United Nations bodies, a sign that opposition to its invasion of Ukraine over a year ago remains strong. The votes were held in the 54-member UN Economic and Social Council, where Russia was overwhelmingly defeated by Romania for a seat on the Commission on the Status of Women, lost to Estonia for membership on the executive board of UNICEF, and was defeated by Armenia and the Czech Republic for membership on the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

These losses follow the approval of six non-binding resolutions against Russia by the 193-member UN General Assembly. The most recent resolution, passed on February 23rd, called for Moscow to end hostilities and withdraw its forces and was adopted by a vote of 141-7 with 32 abstentions.

Although Russia was elected to the Commission for Social Development and the Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting by acclamation, the United States and the United Kingdom dissociated themselves from the vote, citing Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a violation of international law and Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Overall, these results indicate that the international community remains opposed to Russia's actions in Ukraine and is willing to take action through UN bodies to express that opposition.