On Monday, UN-appointed independent rights experts published the latest findings of their report, which shows evidence of continued war crimes committed by Russian forces in their war against Ukraine, including torture and rape.
The commission presented its latest findings to the Human Rights Council (HRC) in an oral update, outlining its observations on illegal attacks with explosive weapons, sexual and gender-based violence, and other war crimes.
Latest Findings
Commission Chair Erik Møse, Commissioner Vrinda Grover, and Pablo de Greiff updated HRC with the latest details. They stated that during its first mandate, the Commission only recorded the frequency, regularity, and intensity of some of the violations, and it is now carrying out more in-depth investigations into attacks on people, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, and attacks on energy infrastructure.
The Commission report stated that explosive weapons targeted residential structures, a functioning medical facility, a railway station, a restaurant, stores, and commercial warehouses, and that the attacks resulted in human fatalities, damage or destruction of critical infrastructure, and disruption of crucial services and supplies.
In the report, the Commission has also concentrated its investigations on violations of personal integrity in territories under Russian control for an extended period, especially in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
The Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine told the @UN Human Rights Council that it has documented attacks with explosive weapons on residential buildings, civilian infrastructure & medical facilities, as well as torture & sexual & #genderbasedviolence.#HRC54 https://t.co/SrWXDKwgtB
— United Nations Human Rights Council | 📍 #HRC54 (@UN_HRC) September 25, 2023
On ‘Wide Spread’ Torture
The Commission claimed that it gathered more evidence suggesting that torture by Russian armed personnel in regions under their control is “widespread and systematic.” Individuals suspected of being Ukrainian military informants were the main targets of torture.
Møse described a torture victim as stating, “Every time I answered that I didn’t know or didn’t remember something, they gave me electric shocks… I don’t know how long it lasted. It felt like an eternity.”
The Commission noted that torture was carried out with such cruelty in a few cases that the victim died.
On Sexual Violence, Illegal Transfer of Children
Furthermore, Møse stated that Commission discovered that Russian troops raped and sexually abused women between the ages of 19 to 83 in the Kherson region, often together with threats or the commission of other violations. The report said that family members were frequently detained in an adjacent room and made to hear the violations.
The Commissioner also stated that they have continued to examine specific cases of suspected transfers of unaccompanied minors to Russia by Russian authorities. “This item remains very high on our priority list,” Møse reassured the Council.
On Allegations of Genocide
In the report, the Commission voiced concern about allegations of genocide in Ukraine, noting that “some of the rhetoric transmitted in Russian state and other media may constitute incitement to genocide.” Møse stated that the Commission was “continuing its investigations on such issues.”
Need For Accountability
The Commission expressed its profound concern over the scale and severity of violations and corresponding crimes committed by Russian armed forces in Ukraine, highlighting the importance of accountability.
Furthermore, it emphasised the need for Ukrainian authorities to investigate “expeditiously and thoroughly” into a few violations committed by its troops.
The UN-appointed independent rights investigators reiterated the importance of accountability and expressed regret that all of their communications addressed to Russia “remain unanswered.”
First Mandate of UN Report
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine was established last year at the request of HRC to undertake an investigation and take appropriate measures. The investigation lasted from the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 until the middle of January 2023.
The report was published in March, accusing Russia of committing war-related crimes in Ukraine.
As per the report, Russia is accused of violating various international human rights and humanitarian laws in Ukraine, including infrastructure attacks, child deportation, torture, rape, unlawful confinement, and killing of Ukrainians.
The report stated that the Commission has gathered sufficient evidence to establish that, under the definition of aggression outlined in UN General Assembly Resolution 3314, Russia’s invasion and attack “qualify as acts of aggression against Ukraine.”