The United Nations General Assembly voted on Tuesday to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council over its atrocities in Ukraine.
Ninety-three countries voted in favor of the resolution to expel Russia from the council, where countries are elected to serve staggered three-year terms. 24 countries voted against the resolution, and 58 abstained from voting.
As a result, Russia became the first permanent member of the UN Security Council to be suspended from any UN body.
"Russia's rights of membership in the UN Human Rights Council has just been suspended," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted after the vote.
He added: "War criminals have no place in UN bodies aimed at protecting human rights. Grateful to all member states which supported the relevant UNGA resolution and chose the right side of history."
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, hailed called Thursday "an important and historic day."
"We have collectively sent a clear message that Russia will be held accountable," she tweeted.
Thomas-Greenfield called for Russia's suspension from the UN's top rights body after the recent discovery of mass civilian killings in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha.
A suspension has only happened to one other country — Libya in 2011.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
