A United Nations (UN) report on the Russia-Ukraine war has created a stir all over the world. UN report claims Russia is carrying out “systematic” torture and rape in Ukraine. This sensational report of UN has come after completion of 2 years of war between Russia and Ukraine. Moscow has made territorial gains on the ground while waging a war against Ukraine for more than two years. Russia has captured about 5 areas of Ukraine.
UN investigators said on Friday that Russia continues to commit serious human rights violations and war crimes in Ukraine, including “systematic” torture and rape.
The High-level Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on the situation of rights in Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion of Kiev said it has found new evidence of widespread abuses. The COI also expressed concern about the continued use of explosive weapons in civilian areas. “A pattern of disregard by the Russian armed forces for potential harm to civilians” has been confirmed.
Russian officials violated international humanitarian law
“The evidence shows that Russian authorities have committed war crimes in violation of international human rights and international humanitarian law,” COI chief Eric Mosse told reporters. “Further investigation is needed to fully determine whether some of the conditions identified may constitute crimes against humanity,” he said. Confirming previous findings, the UN said that torture by Russian authorities has been “widespread and systematic” in both Ukraine and Russia. The investigators said they prepared their latest report after talking to more than 800 people during 16 separate trips to Ukraine.
Horrible treatment of prisoners of war
The team found that Russia’s treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war was “appalling”. It “reports documented incidents of rape and other sexual violence committed against women in circumstances that amount to torture.” It also notes incidents of torture with a sexual dimension and threats of rape against male prisoners of war. Details have been provided.” Investigators also found “additional evidence” that Ukrainian children were illegally transferred to areas under Russian control.
Also accused of looting documents
Investigators first focused on the looting by Russia of Ukrainian cultural objects and archival documents, particularly from the city of Kherson, which was captured by Russian forces in March 2022. During the last weeks of the occupation in October and November 2022, “The Russian authorities transferred cultural objects from the Kherson Regional Art Museum and archival documents from the State Archives of the Kherson Province” to occupied Crimea. According to reports, more than 10,000 objects were removed from the museum and 70 percent of the documents from the main building of the State Archive. A UN report has described this cultural appropriation as a “war crime”.