Briefing the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday, UN Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights Walker Türk careworn that the battle had triggered widespread destruction and violations of worldwide regulation.
He identified that July 2024 was the deadliest month for civilians since October 2022, and Russia launched large-scale assaults throughout Ukraine, inflicting the variety of casualties to rise sharply.
Between June and August, civilian casualties surged 45% from the earlier three months resulting from missiles, drones and air strikes, in addition to ongoing floor operations aimed toward seizing extra Ukrainian territory.
“on the identical time, Deliberate violations of worldwide human rights and humanitarian regulation proceed Mr Turk mentioned:
Mr. Turk expressed severe concern concerning the mistreatment of prisoners of conflict, particularly Ukrainian troopers.
Ukrainian prisoners of conflict have been extensively tortured
He reported on the “in depth and systematic” torture of Ukrainian prisoners of conflict by the Russian military based mostly on the information of 174 Ukrainian prisoners of conflict, virtually all of whom described constant experiences of torture throughout their captivity.
“Incidents of torture happen every single day or each week. Minimal safeguards designed to assist forestall torture – similar to permitting prisoners to speak with the surface world, entry to unbiased displays or routine medical examinations – have been Absent or invalid,” he mentioned.
“The proof collected additionally confirmed the involvement of the power director, and Necessary coordination amongst entities of the Russian Federation – such because the Federal Safety Service and the Federal Jail Service.
He additional expressed concern concerning the inhumane rhetoric of Russian public figures calling for inhumane remedy and even the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of conflict, and warned that broad amnesty legal guidelines for Russian army personnel have been fueling impunity.
Violation of Russian Prisoners of Battle
Mr. Turk additional reported that some Russian prisoners of conflict held by the Ukrainian authorities additionally reported incidents of torture and sexual violence, primarily in the course of the preliminary phases of captivity.
“In virtually all instances, torture and ill-treatment stop when prisoners arrive at official locations of detention, the place situations usually meet worldwide requirements,” he mentioned.
He known as on Ukraine to make sure that prisoners of conflict are handled below worldwide regulation “in any respect phases of their captivity”.
“Malicious” assaults on civilians
Turck additionally highlighted Russia’s ongoing assaults on Ukraine’s vital vitality infrastructure, with no less than 4 waves of large-scale assaults happening over the previous three months. The strikes are more and more concentrating on energy technology amenities, inflicting widespread blackouts and elevating considerations a couple of chilly winter forward.
“That is an evil technique to hurt civilians,” he mentioned, stressing that in a extremely urbanized nation like Ukraine, electrical energy is significant for hospitals, heating, water remedy and each day life.
“Electrical energy is a lifeline.“
As well as, he drew consideration to the environmental injury attributable to the battle and the dangers posed by preventing close to nuclear energy crops.
He concluded by urging Russia to meet its worldwide obligations, enable entry to unbiased displays and finish its army assault on Ukraine.
He careworn that entry to the sector is essential to discovering the information and making certain accountability.
