China opposed the establishment of an independent international commission of inquiry on the Ukraine issue, said Chen Xu, China's Permanent Representative to the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG).

"We do not support any action that may intensify tensions. The intervention of and actions by the Human Rights Council will only exacerbate confrontation and do a disservice to the peaceful settlement of the Ukraine issue by diplomatic means," he said on Thursday at the urgent debate on the situation in Ukraine.

Convened at the request of Ukraine, the UN Human Rights Council is gathering in Geneva to consider a draft resolution on the "situation of human rights in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression."

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet told the urgent debate that the Russian advance in Ukraine has "opened a new and dangerous chapter in world history" and is generating "a massive impact on the human rights of millions of people."