UN investigation finds new evidence of Russian war crimes in Ukraine
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A United Nations commission of inquiry on Ukraine announced on Friday that it had uncovered new evidence pointing to Russian forces' involvement in "indiscriminate attacks" and war crimes within Ukraine.
These violations included disturbing acts such as rape and the deportation of children to Russia. The commission's findings were submitted in a report to the U.N. General Assembly and specifically highlighted incidents in Uman and Kherson, among others, reported Reuters.
In the report, the commission stated, "The Commission has found new evidence that Russian authorities have committed violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, and corresponding crimes, in areas that came under their control in Ukraine." The evidence documented attacks on civilian targets, such as residential buildings, a railway station, shops, and a civilian warehouse, resulting in significant casualties.
Russia has consistently denied allegations of committing war crimes or deliberately targeting civilians in Ukraine.
The commission's report highlighted cases of rape "with the use of force or psychological coercion." Most of these incidents occurred when perpetrators forcibly entered the victims' homes. Victims reported instances of sexual assault at gunpoint, along with threats of harm or death to the victims or their family members.
Furthermore, the commission disclosed that it had documented the unlawful deportation of 31 children from Ukraine to Russia in May, classifying this as a war crime. Russia has defended its actions by asserting that it transported children from orphanages or those without parental care to Russia for their safety and aimed to place them with relatives.
The Russian diplomatic mission in Geneva did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the commission's report.
The commission's investigation also revealed three instances in which Ukrainian authorities were found to have violated the human rights of individuals accused of collaborating with Russian authorities.