In a recently released report by the United Nations, compelling evidence has been presented, shedding light on Russia's alleged involvement in war crimes during its invasion of Ukraine.
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry's Thursday report claims that Russia has committed the offenses of premeditated murder, torture, rape, and various forms of sexual violence, as well as deported minors to the Russian Federation, as per UPI.
UN Report Exposes Horrific Russian War Crimes in Ukraine
Ukrainian rescuers carry a body from a destroyed residential building after a missile strike in the centre of Mykolaiv on July 20, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The report sheds light on indiscriminate attacks with explosive weapons, causing civilian casualties and widespread destruction in cities like Uman and Kherson. One particularly harrowing incident in Uman resulted in the deaths of 24 people, predominantly women, and children, when a block of flats was targeted in an attack that rendered part of the building uninhabitable.
The report also highlights attacks on civilian objects, including residential buildings, a railway station, shops, and a civilian warehouse, which caused numerous casualties. Despite mounting evidence, Russia has consistently denied committing atrocities or deliberately targeting civilians in Ukraine.
The UN's investigation further reveals cases of torture in Russian detention facilities in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, where a pattern of abuse has emerged, echoing previous UN reports.
The victims of these abuses were primarily men suspected of aiding Ukraine or providing information to Ukrainian forces. In some instances, the torture was so severe that it led to the victim's death. Witnesses have described the appalling conditions and inhumane treatment they endured at the hands of Russian authorities.
Interviews with victims and witnesses exposed what the commissioners described as "a profound disregard towards human dignity by Russian authorities." The report documents cases of sexual violence, often accompanied by severe beatings, strangulation, suffocation, slashing, shooting, and even murder, according to Mail Online.
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Unsettling Reality of Attacks on Civilians in Ukraine
Many of these incidents took place after the perpetrators forcibly entered the victims' homes, threatening to kill them or inflict severe harm on the victims or their relatives. One horrifying case involved a Russian soldier's rape and torture of a 75-year-old woman in her own home.
The woman was subjected to physical violence, including blows to her face, chest, and ribs and strangulation during interrogation. In a distressing incident, a soldier allegedly coerced a woman to disrobe against her will. When she declined, he forcefully stripped her and subjected her to multiple instances of sexual assault.
In a distressing incident, an older woman reportedly sustained numerous broken ribs and experienced tooth loss due to an attack. The UN report highlights that these horrific experiences have left victims with severe and enduring trauma, underscoring the urgent need for justice and support for survivors.
The commission's findings also include the documented transfer of 31 children from Ukraine to Russia in May, which the UN concluded was an unlawful deportation and a war crime. Moscow has denied forcibly taking Ukrainian children, claiming they were moved to Russia for their safety, with efforts made to place them with relatives there.
According to Reuters, the Russian diplomatic mission in Geneva has yet to respond to the commission's report. Furthermore, the report acknowledges three cases in which Ukrainian authorities were found to have committed human rights violations against individuals accused of collaborating with Russian authorities.
The gravity of the documented violations and their impact on victims, survivors, and affected communities are deeply concerning, prompting the UN to call upon the conflict parties, Russia and Ukraine, to cease war crimes and human rights violations immediately.
This UN report is a stark reminder of the urgent need for international intervention and accountability to end the suffering of innocent civilians caught in this devastating battle.
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