- The United Nations has released a new report describing crimes committed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- The report details war crimes such as the torture and rape of civilians and the deportation of children.
- The invasion has created more refugees and displaced persons than the world has experienced since World War II.
More than a year after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a new report released by the UN’s Independent Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine found systematic rape, torture, killing of civilians, and found evidence of war crimes, including indiscriminate attacks on infrastructure. Millions of people have been forced from their homes.
According to the United Nations, more people have fled Ukraine or been displaced within the country since the start of the war than the world has ever experienced since World War II.
of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees As of February 21, around 8 million refugees from Ukraine were reported to have been displaced across Europe. About 90% of them are women and children. In addition, about 5.4 million people are currently displaced across Ukraine and remain inside the country.
“With nearly 18 million people in Ukraine in need of humanitarian assistance, the situation is particularly difficult during the winter months.” report read. “The conflict has affected people’s rights to health, education, adequate housing, food and water. Vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, persons with disabilities and members of minorities are particularly affected. The country has escaped conflict.”
As of February 15, the OHCHR recorded 8,006 civilian deaths and 13,287 injuries in Ukraine since the invasion began on February 24 last year. report Officials have indicated that they believe the true figure is “pretty high.”
To complete the report, UN commission members visited 56 communities affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and completed interviews with 348 women and 247 men. Investigators reported seeing “scenes of destruction, graves, sites of detention and torture, and remains of weapons,” according to a UN statement emailed to the insider.
of report Two cases of war crimes allegedly committed by Ukrainian forces have been investigated, but the evidence is that “Russian authorities have committed widespread violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in many parts of Ukraine and the Russian Federation.” committed,” he pointed out.according to report, Including “deliberate killing, attack on civilians, unlawful imprisonment, torture, rape, forced deportation and deportation of children.”
“They punished innocent people. Now, if the guilty are still alive, we need to give them maximum punishment,” says a man whose father was executed by Russian forces in the Izium area. told members of the committee. According to a United Nations statement emailed to the insider.
The International Criminal Court, a court based in The Hague, Netherlands, on Friday issued an international arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin, accusing the Russian leader of war crimes and asking him to stand trial. , like the United States, does not recognize the authority of the ICC.
Putin is responsible for the war crime of deporting children from occupied territories in Ukraine to the Russian Federation, the ICC said on Friday. statement.
A State Department spokesperson told Insider: “There is no doubt that Russia is committing war crimes and atrocities in Ukraine, and it is clear that those responsible must be held accountable.”
Representatives for the ICC and State Department did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
