UN concludes Russia committed war crimes in Ukraine

Raped and confined children, bodies found with their hands tied, throats slit, people tortured and executed are part of the tragic list of crimes committed by Russian troops since they began the invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

This is confirmed by an investigation by the United Nations Organization (UN), whose conclusions were released during a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 23.

“Based on the evidence gathered by the commission, it has been concluded that war crimes have been committed in Ukraine,” said Erik Mose, director of the Investigative Committee sent by the UN to the attacked country.

The official who headed the team explained that the investigators identified victims of sexual violence between the ages of four and 82 and that in some cases their relatives were forced to see how these people were mistreated or tortured.

The experts indicated that the Russian soldiers used this type of aggression as part of their strategy in the conflict.

The evidence was found by the delegation after visiting 27 towns and settlements in four regions: kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Summy, where some areas were controlled by the Russians until they were recovered by the Ukrainian Army.

These are the most extensive findings so far in the ongoing conflict, citing interviews with more than 150 victims and witnesses. Among the testimonies are those of former detainees who gave accounts of beatings, electric shocks and forced nudity they suffered in Russian detention centers.

Last June, the team visited Bucha, a town on the outskirts of the capital kyiv, where Ukrainian authorities found mass graves and bodies strewn in the streets after Russian forces withdrew in late March.

“We were struck by the large number of executions in the areas we visited. The commission is currently investigating such deaths in 16 towns and settlements,” Mose said.

The Ukrainian government and other Western nations urged the commission to also investigate the mass grave found with around 450 graves near the city of Izium in eastern Ukraine, which was the main stronghold of Moscow’s troops in the province. northeastern Kharkiv until a few weeks ago, when they backed down in a surprise counteroffensive from Kiev.

Mose later noted that the agency intends to investigate that case.

The Moscow delegation was called to respond to the accusations at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council, but boycotted the meeting. Her seat was empty and she didn’t react immediately.

Every time a population is liberated and the survivors narrate the humiliations they experienced at the hands of the invading troops, Moscow denies any responsibility of its military.

The experts did not give a figure on how many crimes had been committed, but said Russia is responsible for “a large number.”

Forced transfers and adoption of Ukrainian children in Russia

The horror and insults to which the Ukrainian population is subjected also includes forced transfers to the invading country and the accelerated adoption of Ukrainian children to take them to Russia, according to the complaints.

Given this panorama, the commission indicated that it plans to gradually expand its investigation to those other areas of interest.

“Numerous sources” indicated that Russian authorities have interrogated, detained and/or forcibly deported between 900,000 and 1.6 million Ukrainian citizens, and there are reports that children who have been removed from Ukraine have been transferred to Russian orphanages. for its adoption, assured the United States ambassador to the Human Rights Council. H H. of the UN, Michele Taylor.

The Washington representative urged the commissioners to continue “examining the mounting evidence of Russia’s leak operations, forced deportations and disappearances.”

During the meeting, a handful of Russia’s allies came to Moscow’s defense.

Ina Vasileuskaya, Belarus’ deputy permanent representative to the UN, stated that the goal of Russia’s invasion is “to protect Russian-speakers in Ukraine”, echoing the justifications used by the Kremlin.

“Skewed discussions in the Human Rights Council that only accuse Russia is a dead end,” he said.

kyiv demands punishment from Russia: “Accountability is crucial”

Anton Korynevych, Ambassador General of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, joined the envoys of several Western countries who spoke out against Moscow’s war, after the presentation of the conclusions of the UN investigative committee.

Korynevych, who joined the meeting via video link, called for the creation of a special court that would have jurisdiction “over the crime of aggression against Ukraine” and investigate high-ranking Russian political and military leaders who have been allegedly responsible. .

The official emphasized that “accountability is crucial” in the face of human rights violations and atrocities linked to Russia’s “aggression.”

Korynevych also highlighted how the impact of the war is spreading across the globe and has brought “numerous countries to the brink of famine, exacerbated extreme poverty, created the threat of a never-before-seen nuclear catastrophe” and harmed the livelihoods of millions. of people.

In reaction to the findings, several countries suggested that the abuses amounted to crimes against humanity.

The results of the investigations delivered this Friday echo the reports of the media on the ground, other NGOs and human rights organizations that account for the destruction, death and despair in Ukraine since the Russian president, Vladimir Putin ordered the war.

It is possible that these conclusions add evidence to the investigations carried out by the International Criminal Court on the conflict. The body is due to submit a full report to the council at the end of its term in March 2023, including a possible list of perpetrators and recommendations on how to hold them accountable.

However, it remains uncertain whether Russia or other alleged perpetrators will ever face justice.

With Reuters and AP