Russia has committed mass war crimes in Ukraine, deliberate killings and torture, in some cases forcing children to witness the rape of their loved ones, in others forcing them to sit next to corpses. Some abuses can be classified as crimes against humanity, but UN investigators have not observed genocide in Ukraine since the Russian invasion of that country, UN experts said on Thursday, recommending that the study on the subject continue, AFP reports and Reuters cites. from News.ro.

“We have not found that there was genocide in Ukraine,” said Eric Mose, one of the three commissioners in charge of the investigation, stressing, however, that “some aspects may raise questions about this crime.”

The resettlement of Ukrainian children to Moscow-controlled territories and in Russia is a “war crime,” the UN commission of inquiry said. They also accuse Moscow of committing possible “crimes against humanity” in Ukraine by attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure and using torture.

“The situations he investigated regarding the transfer and deportation of children within the borders of Ukraine and the Russian Federation, respectively, violate international humanitarian law and constitute a war crime,” investigators wrote in their first report since the start of Russia’s and Ukraine’s offensive in Ukraine. February 24, 2022

“Possible” crimes against humanity

The investigators also accuse Moscow of possible “crimes against humanity.”

“The commission found that the waves of attacks by the Russian armed forces on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, starting on October 10, 2022, and the use of torture by the Russian authorities may constitute crimes against humanity,” reads the report, which recommends further investigation.

The commission also sought to verify whether the bombing and siege of the city of Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine could constitute a crime against humanity. However, he concluded that he did not have enough evidence to make that conclusion because he did not have access to Donetsk region, where the port city was besieged by the Russian military for months before it fell in May 2022. But the Commission recommends the continuation of investigations.

This group of researchers was created last year by the UN Human Rights Council, whose 47 member states must decide in early April whether or not to extend their mandate. It is the first time investigators have released a written report, but in September they accused Moscow of committing a “significant number” of war crimes in four Ukrainian regions in the first weeks after the Russian invasion at a press conference. However, they said it was still too early to talk about crimes against humanity, contrary to claims by non-governmental organizations and Ukraine at the time.

Russia’s Shocking Abuses in Ukraine: What “Putin’s Call” and “Parrot Posture” Mean

The report states that Russian forces carried out “indiscriminate and disproportionate” attacks on Ukraine, and calls for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. “The ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine has had devastating consequences at various levels,” said Eric Mose, chairman of the commission. .., during the press conference. “The human losses and the general disregard for civilian life are shocking,” he testified.

The report says that at least 13 waves of Russian attacks since October on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, as well as the use of torture, “may constitute crimes against humanity.” The report also states that approximately 16,000 children have been illegally displaced and deported from Ukraine, citing Ukrainian government figures. Russia rejects the accusations, saying it voluntarily evacuated people from Ukraine.

Other children were forced to witness the rape of their loved ones or, in one case, were detained in the school basement next to the bodies of the victims, the report said.

Victims in Russian detention centers were electrocuted using a military phone – a method known as “Putin calls” – or hung from the ceiling in the “parrot pose”, the report said.

The commission found reasonable grounds for concluding that the invasion of Ukraine qualifies as an act of aggression.

On the other hand, the report also found that Ukrainian forces committed “a small number of violations,” including what appeared to be indiscriminate attacks and torture of prisoners of war. The Ukrainian presidency was not available for comment, Reuters reports.

How did Russia react?

Ukraine, which has called for a special tribunal to prosecute Russia’s political and military leadership for aggression during the invasion, said the panel was essential to ensure Russia was held accountable.

Reacting to the report, Russian Foreign Minister Maria Zakharova told reporters on Thursday that Moscow regularly hears such accusations. She added that if those behind such reports are objective, then Moscow is ready to analyze specific cases, answer questions, provide data, statistics and facts. “But if they are biased, if they represent only one point of view, then there is no point in reacting to these messages,” Zakharova said.

Russia denies committing crimes or attacks on civilians in Ukraine.

The report by UN experts is based on more than 500 interviews, as well as satellite images and visits to prisons and graves. The report comes as the ICC, the International Criminal Court in The Hague, is expected to seek the arrest of some Russian officials for forcibly deporting children from Ukraine and attacking civilian infrastructure.

The commission’s 18-page report will be presented to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday. Countries on the Council, the only body made up of governments that protects human rights around the world, are seeking to expand and deepen the commission’s mandate.

Sometimes the Council’s investigations lead to prosecution in international courts. The commission said it is working on a list of possible criminals, which will be sent to the UN authorities.

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