UN Investigation Reveals Russian Troops Tortured To Death Against Ukrainians

The discovery of a mass grave in Izium, Ukraine. (Wikimedia Commons/armyinform.com.ua)

JAKARTA - Members of the investigative body mandated by the United Nations in the latest findings in the field revealed that the Russian colonialists tortured Ukrainians so brutally that some of their victims died, and committed sexual violence against women.

Chairman of the Ukrainian Investigation Commission Erik M Wayse told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva his team had "collected further evidence indicating the use of torture by Russian armed forces in the territory they control has been widespread and systematic".

"In some cases, torture was carried out so brutally that it caused the death of the victim," he said.

"The Russian army raped and committed sexual violence against women aged between 19 and 83 years in the occupied territory of Kherson Province," he continued.

"Often, family and neighbors are forced to hear the violations that occur," he added.

Russia denies committing atrocities or targeting civilians in Ukraine.

M wayse said the commission's efforts to communicate with Russia were unanswered. Moscow was given the opportunity to respond to the allegations at the council hearing, but no Russian representatives were present.

Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

When asked at the next news conference about the number of cases of torture that resulted in death, commission member Pablo de Greiff said it was impossible to know this because of limited access. However, the number is "large enough and comes from different sources. Regions across Ukraine, close to or far from the front lines of fighting".

Commission M wayse visited Ukrainian territory previously controlled by Russian troops, such as Kherson and Zaporizhia, in August and September.

It was found that torture was carried out primarily in detention centers operated by Russian authorities, with the main targets being people suspected of being Ukrainian informants.

The commission previously said violations committed by Russian troops in Ukraine, including the use of torture, may constitute crimes against humanity.

Apart from Russia, continued M wayse, his party also found "several cases" of violations committed by Ukrainian forces, saying the abuses were related to indiscriminate attacks and ill-treatment of Russian prisoners.

Kyiv previously said that his party examined all information regarding the treatment of prisoners of war and would investigate any violations, take appropriate legal action.

It is known that the commission was mandated by the council in March 2022 to investigate violations in Ukraine since the war began. The commission has made several visits and hundreds of interviews. Sometimes, the evidence collected by the investigation mandated by the United Nations is used for national and international trials, including cases of war crimes.