UN experts say Russia committed war crimes in Ukraine
- These include rape, torture, executions and confinement of children, says the investigative body, citing evidence gathered in the field
- The panel visited 27 places and interviewed more than 150 victims and witnesses in areas formerly held by Russia
War crimes including rape, torture, executions and confinement of children were committed by Russia in areas it occupied in Ukraine, the head of a UN-mandated investigation body said on Friday.
The commission is one of the first international bodies to reach the conclusion on the basis of field evidence. Ukraine and its Western allies have accused Russian soldiers of a litany of abuses since the February 24 invasion, but Moscow has regularly dismissed the allegations as a smear campaign.
“Based on the evidence gathered by the Commission, it has concluded that war crimes have been committed in Ukraine,” Erik Mose, who heads the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
He did not give an estimate of how many crimes had taken place but said in a later interview that “a large number” had been committed by Russia and only two cases by Ukraine involving the ill-treatment of Russian soldiers.
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Russia denies deliberately attacking civilians during what it calls its “special military operation”. Russia was called on to respond to the accusations at the council meeting but its seat was left empty. There was no immediate official reaction from Moscow.