The Russian army has been guilty of ‘systematic’ torture of Ukrainians on a large scale, sometimes resulting in death. This is the conclusion of researchers from the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
The researchers shared the conclusions this afternoon at a press conference following an investigation into parts of Ukraine that the Ukrainian army reclaimed after Russian occupation. The research, conducted over the past two months, took place largely in the Kherson region.
In particular, people who, according to Russia, were spying for Ukraine, are said to have been victims of the torture practices. According to the UN, Russian soldiers have also violently raped women ‘aged 19 to 83’.
The UN is still working on a list of alleged perpetrators. According to the researchers, it is impossible to determine exactly how often the torture had fatal consequences. Russia has not yet responded to the allegations.
The researchers also said they had received signals that Russian prisoners of war were being treated poorly. They called on the Ukrainian army to investigate.
The UN decided to investigate human rights violations in Ukraine almost immediately after the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022. In March, the Human Rights Commission accused both Russia and Ukraine of carrying out summary executions.
ANP / EPA – Research leader Erik Mose (left) of the UN Human Rights Commission today at the press conference.
Dylan van Bekkum
2023-09-25 20:20:04
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