Over the past few months, Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in an intense war, leading to the deaths of many civilians and soldiers. Russian forces began their attacks in February, pushing north from Crimea, a region of Ukraine that was captured in 2014. Russia soon took control of southern Ukraine and started pushing towards larger Ukrainian cities like Kyiv.
Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, claimed Russia’s invasion into Ukraine was a special military operation to rid Ukraine of Nazis. He said his goal was to “demilitarize and de-Nazify Ukraine.”
Unfortunately, Putin’s special military operation has become the largest European war since World War Two, leaving thousands of people dead, and millions without homes. There are also reports that Russian troops have tortured Ukraine civilians.
Yulia Gorbunova, senior Ukraine researcher at Human Rights Watch said “torture, inhumane treatment, as well as arbitrary detention and unlawful confinement of civilians, are among the apparent war crimes we have documented.” She went on to say that Russian authorities should end such abuses immediately and understand that they will be held accountable.
In the past, Moscow, Russia’s capital, has denied that its troops have committed abuses against civilians. They also claim that its missiles target military areas, rather than civilian ones (New York Times).
Despite Russia’s claims, a Human Rights Watch report said, “people interviewed described being tortured, or witnessing torture, through prolonged beatings and in some cases electric shocks.” Injuries included severe burns, cuts, concussions, broken teeth, broken bones, including ribs, and broken blood vessels.
The report also documented the torture of three members of Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces who were being held as prisoners of war. Two of them ended up dying. Russian authorities did not comment about the Human Rights Watch report.
Reports of beatings and torture will most likely continue to rise as there is little sign of any negotiated end to this war. At the end of March, a few weeks into the war, Russia said it was considering a Ukrainian proposal of neutrality. The offer stated that Ukraine would become a non-aligned and “non-nuclear” state, with no foreign military bases or contingents on its territory, among other things.
President Putin did not accept the proposal and declared negotiations were at a dead end. Since the end of March there have been no further negotiations.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56720589
https://www.dw.com/en/russia-ukraine-updates-kyiv-counteroffensive-gathering-momentum-uk-intelligence/a-62621492
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/24/world/europe/russia-torture-ukraine-human-rights-watch.html
Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, claimed Russia’s invasion into Ukraine was a special military operation to rid Ukraine of Nazis. He said his goal was to “demilitarize and de-Nazify Ukraine.”
Unfortunately, Putin’s special military operation has become the largest European war since World War Two, leaving thousands of people dead, and millions without homes. There are also reports that Russian troops have tortured Ukraine civilians.
Yulia Gorbunova, senior Ukraine researcher at Human Rights Watch said “torture, inhumane treatment, as well as arbitrary detention and unlawful confinement of civilians, are among the apparent war crimes we have documented.” She went on to say that Russian authorities should end such abuses immediately and understand that they will be held accountable.
In the past, Moscow, Russia’s capital, has denied that its troops have committed abuses against civilians. They also claim that its missiles target military areas, rather than civilian ones (New York Times).
Despite Russia’s claims, a Human Rights Watch report said, “people interviewed described being tortured, or witnessing torture, through prolonged beatings and in some cases electric shocks.” Injuries included severe burns, cuts, concussions, broken teeth, broken bones, including ribs, and broken blood vessels.
The report also documented the torture of three members of Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces who were being held as prisoners of war. Two of them ended up dying. Russian authorities did not comment about the Human Rights Watch report.
Reports of beatings and torture will most likely continue to rise as there is little sign of any negotiated end to this war. At the end of March, a few weeks into the war, Russia said it was considering a Ukrainian proposal of neutrality. The offer stated that Ukraine would become a non-aligned and “non-nuclear” state, with no foreign military bases or contingents on its territory, among other things.
President Putin did not accept the proposal and declared negotiations were at a dead end. Since the end of March there have been no further negotiations.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56720589
https://www.dw.com/en/russia-ukraine-updates-kyiv-counteroffensive-gathering-momentum-uk-intelligence/a-62621492
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/24/world/europe/russia-torture-ukraine-human-rights-watch.html
