UN: Russia committed serious war crimes in Ukraine

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk accuses Russian forces of war crimes in Ukraine, citing 142 civilian executions, disappearances, torture, and sexual violence cases as major breaches of international law.

byYuri Zoria

19/12/2023

1 minute read

Suspilne Kharkiv captured the photo above of one of 440 mass graves discovered in Izium after the Ukrainian Army partially liberated Kharkiv Oblast in the fall of 2022

UN: Russia committed serious war crimes in Ukraine

There are indications Russian forces have committed significant war crimes within Ukraine, United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk said on 19 December, according to Sky News.

According to Turk, there had been Russia’s “extensive failure” to take adequate measures to protect civilians.

His office’s monitoring revealed “gross violations of international human rights law, serious violations of international humanitarian law, and war crimes, primarily by the forces of the Russian Federation.”

He stated that the violations his office knows about include 142 instances of civilians being summarily executed, along with cases of enforced disappearances, torture, and ill-treatment of detainees, including incidents of sexual violence.

Russia has vehemently denied committing atrocities or intentionally targeting civilians in Ukraine.

Mr. Turk emphasized that the armed forces of both nations, with a particular focus on Russia, must adhere strictly to international human rights and humanitarian laws.

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