According to the report of the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, the actions of the Russian army constitute two crimes against humanity: first, “killings and forced transfers of population” and second, “deportations and transfers of civilians” from areas occupied by Russian forces, some of whom were tortured.
Systematic and coordinated
The attacks – which hit a wide range of civilian targets in an area stretching more than 300 kilometers along the right bank of the Dnipro River in Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts – are systematically coordinated actions aimed at driving Ukrainians from their homes, the report’s authors say.
Buildings have been damaged by drone and missile attacks in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv.
They targeted individuals, homes and buildings, humanitarian distribution points and essential energy infrastructure serving civilians.
They also targeted first responders, including ambulances and firefighters, who enjoy special protection under international humanitarian law.
Many attacks hit the same vehicles and infrastructure repeatedly, deliberately setting them on fire, spreading terror among the civilian population and violating their basic human rights.
The UN report Human Rights CouncilThe designated investigation team – created in March 2022 – contains testimonies from residents who have faced criticism, describing their living conditions as unbearable.
“Severe mental pain and suffering”
“We are affected every day, drones fly at all hours – morning, evening, day or night, constantlysaid one man interviewed for the report.
The investigators’ report indicates that Russian authorities coordinated actions to expel or transfer groups of people from areas under occupation. Some were transferred to areas under Ukrainian government control; others were sent to neighboring Georgia.
Detention, torture and confiscation of documents and property are also mentioned – acts which have “inflicted severe mental pain and suffering and constitutes inhumane treatment constituting a war crime and a violation of human rights”, says the report.
Thick black smoke fills the sky above residential buildings in kyiv after a drone strike set fire to a nine-story building in the neighborhood.
On Monday, the commission of inquiry presented the report to the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, which deals with social, humanitarian and cultural issues.
The findings are based on some 500 publicly available crime videos examined – 247 of which were technically verified – and 226 interviews with Ukrainian citizens.
The Commission also examined Russian allegations that Ukrainian armed forces attacked civilian targets in Russian-occupied areas with drones. She was unable to draw any conclusions due to lack of access to the territory, concerns over the safety of witnesses and the lack of response from Russian authorities.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
