The invasion in Ukraine has been described by the UN as a “horror story against civilians”, after its monitoring mission of rights confirmed the indiscriminate murder of at least 50 people in the city of Bucha, west of kyiv.
The findings, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, are not “isolated” events and constitute war crimes.
According to the officials of the international agency, these figures could increase once the investigations continue .
“International humanitarian law has not only been ignored, but totally abandoned”, assured this Friday the high commissioner, the Chilean Michelle Bachelet, who denounced the attack and bombing of populated areas and infrastructure occupied by civilians by Russian forces .
In Bucha, a few days after the start of the war, a Russian convoy of tanks and vehicles armored vehicle that sought to reach kyiv was attacked by the Ukrainians and was unable to continue its advance.
Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
This forced the Russian troops to remain in the suburb of the Ukrainian capital until at least the end of March.
After the withdrawal of the troops from the Kremlin, the world was shocked by the images of what appeared to be civilians killed around the entire city. Both Ukraine and the UN launched investigations for possible war crimes.
The UN experts visited the country on April 9.
Data of the mission of the ONU
- two,345 dead civilians and 2,919 wounded during the war
- 144 reports of murders in kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkov and Sumy
- 60 attacks on medical facilities
- 3,000 civilians killed by fa Health care discharge
- 75 complaints of sexual violence
75 arbitrary arrests by Russian forces
“Almost all Bucha residents with whom these experts spoke they denounced the death of one of their relatives, neighbors or other people”, underlined High Commissioner Bachelet, who added that other localities also suffered a situation similar to Bucha.
Bachelet offered as an example of “the lack of respect for international law” the attack on the train station in Kramatorsk on April 8, which caused the death of 60 people and injured others 111.
The surveillance mission has received complaints of more than 300 unlawful killings in Ukraine.
Since the war began, the UN has documented the death of at least 2.345 civilians and 2.919 wounded.
These numbers, however, do not include areas such as Mariúpol, where the conflict is currently focused.
Other violations documented by the monitoring mission include 75 cases of sexual violence against women , men and minors.
- “The second phase of the war has begun”: Ukraine says that Russia has launched a new large-scale offensive in Donbas
Also, l The commissioner’s office also denounced the detention, mistreatment, torture and murder of civilians and prisoners of war by both sides in the war.
Bachelet made a call to guarantee that international law is respected and the evidence of the conflict in Ukraine is preserved.
“Our work for now tells a story of horror and violations against civilians“, Bachelet said.
“This senseless war must end, and if it doesn’t, at least all parties must clearly instruct their forces to respect international humanitarian law,” he added.
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