According to U.N.-backed human rights experts, new evidence has emerged of severe torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian jailers, potentially constituting war crimes.
The Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine reported widespread human rights violations since Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the country over two years ago, with ongoing civilian suffering.
The latest report strengthens previous findings of systematic torture by Russian authorities in Ukraine and Russia, highlighting the inhumane treatment of POWs in various Russian sites.
Russian forces were accused of disregarding civilian harm in military operations, including incidents of rape and sexual violence against women being considered as torture.
The relocation of children from southern Ukraine to Russian-occupied Crimea raised concerns of unlawful transfer, potentially amounting to a war crime.
While noting some human rights violations by Ukrainian authorities against those suspected of collaborating with Russia, the commission praised Ukrainian assistance in the investigation.
Despite conducting numerous trips to Ukraine and interviewing over 1,400 individuals in the past two years, the team faced a lack of cooperation from Russian authorities, with unanswered requests for meetings, access, and information.
By Jamey Keaten, The Associated Press
