UN Condemns Russia's Failure To Protect Ukrainian Civilians

JAKARTA - UN human rights chief Volker Turk said on Tuesday there was "a major failure" by Russia in taking adequate action to protect civilians in Ukraine, with indications that Russian troops had committed war crimes.

Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said his office's monitoring showed "heavy violations of international human rights law, serious violations of international humanitarian law, and war crimes, especially those committed by Russian Federation forces."

These violations, Turk said at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, include 142 cases of mass execution of civilians since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year, as well as the removal of coercion, torture and ill-treatment of prisoners, including through sexual assault.

On the other hand, Russia firmly denies committing atrocities or targeting civilians in Ukraine.

"There has been a major failure by the Russian Federation in taking adequate measures to protect civilians and protect civilian objects from the impact of their attacks," Turk said.

He further said the armed forces of the two countries, particularly Russia, must comply with the laws of human rights and international humanity.

"They must stop the use of explosive weapons that have a broad impact on populated areas, and carefully map mine locations," Turk said.

In response, Russia's permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva accused the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights covering up' crimes committed by Ukrainian forces.

"If you really want to talk about Donbass, then you need to write about daily attacks on Donetsk, the deaths of children and other civilians in the hands of the Ukrainian military," Evgeny Ustinov, senior adviser to the mission, told the Board of Rights.

Separately, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded more than 1,400 attacks on health facilities and other health infrastructure in Ukraine as a whole since the start of the Russian invasion, making it difficult to provide the most important service.

Speaking to reporters via video link from the Ukrainian city of Odesa, Dr. Jarno Habicht, a WHO representative in Ukraine, said the organization and other partners hope to reach 3.8 million out of 7.8 million people who need health assistance next year.

"We see humanitarian needs will continue in 2024 and at the same level as now," he explained.

"However, this needs to be more focused on oblasts (regions) that have the highest needs in the eastern and southern regions," he added, referring to areas in the country that were badly damaged by the invasion.