The UNʼs independent international commission investigating the events in Ukraine found evidence of a number of war crimes, violations of human rights, and international humanitarian law committed in Ukraine.
The commission published its report on October 18.
The commission recorded attacks in which the Russians indiscriminately used explosive weapons and opened fire on civilians who tried to escape.
The commission recorded cases of executions, illegal imprisonment, torture, ill-treatment, rape, and other types of sexual violence in areas occupied by the Russian army. People were detained and illegally taken to Russia, and many people are still considered missing. Sexual violence affects victims of all ages. Family members, including children, were sometimes forced to witness crimes.
The commission made its conclusions based on the investigation of events in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Sumy regions, which were conducted at the end of February and March 2022. The commission visited 27 cities and towns and interviewed 191 victims and witnesses. Investigative commissions inspected the places of destruction, graves, places of imprisonment and torture, as well as the remains of weapons, and got acquainted with a large number of documents and reports.
The commission also reports on examples of how "both sides in the armed conflict, albeit in different ways, failed to protect the civilian population or civilian objects because they placed military objects and forces in or near densely populated areas."
"Russian armed forces are responsible for the vast majority of the violations identified. Ukrainian forces have also committed international humanitarian law violations in some cases, including two incidents that qualify as war crimes," the report reads.
Regarding the "two incidents with the Ukrainian armed forces", the UN commission writes about two cases of shooting, wounding, and torture of people hors de combat.
"The impact of these violations on the civilian population of Ukraine is enormous. Loss of life is estimated in the thousands. The destruction of the infrastructure is significant," said the head of the commission, Eric Mese.
In this regard, the commission recommends strengthening the coordination of international efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent harm to victims and witnesses.