Since Russia invaded southern Ukraine this year, Russian forces have been abusing and torturing the civilians of the overrun area. The abuse committed in Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv has attracted the attention of Ukrainian prosecutors in many war crime trials.
Russian forces have been expanding their territory across Ukraine, spreading north from Crimea, a region of Ukraine that Moscow seized in 2014. The Human Rights Watch, a non-profit organization established in New York, has especially been eyeing southern Ukraine, where Russian authorities securely control access and information.
“Russian forces have turned occupied areas of southern Ukraine into an abyss of fear and wild lawlessness,” said Yulia Gorbunova, senior Ukraine researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Torture, inhumane treatment, as well as arbitrary detention and unlawful confinement of civilians, are among the apparent war crimes we have documented.”
The abuse seems to have no relation to Russia’s objective regarding the Ukraine invasion, which President Vladimir Putin had stated was “a special military operation to rid Ukraine of Nazis,” falsely presenting the invasion as a noble mission.
Human Rights Watch interviewed 71 people in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, 42 of which described cases of people being detained and disappearing or severe abuse and injuries like burns, broken bones, and various cuts.
“People interviewed described being tortured, or witnessing torture, through prolonged beatings and in some cases electric shocks,” the report said.
Three members of Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces being held as prisoners of war were documented by the Human Rights Watch. Two of the members died.
Early in the invasions, citizens in the Kherson Province were the first to protest against the Russian invaders. The protests were followed by violent repressions, with insurgents bombing and attacking Russian proxy leaders, helping Ukraine reclaim their territory.
Russian forces have been expanding their territory across Ukraine, spreading north from Crimea, a region of Ukraine that Moscow seized in 2014. The Human Rights Watch, a non-profit organization established in New York, has especially been eyeing southern Ukraine, where Russian authorities securely control access and information.
“Russian forces have turned occupied areas of southern Ukraine into an abyss of fear and wild lawlessness,” said Yulia Gorbunova, senior Ukraine researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Torture, inhumane treatment, as well as arbitrary detention and unlawful confinement of civilians, are among the apparent war crimes we have documented.”
The abuse seems to have no relation to Russia’s objective regarding the Ukraine invasion, which President Vladimir Putin had stated was “a special military operation to rid Ukraine of Nazis,” falsely presenting the invasion as a noble mission.
Human Rights Watch interviewed 71 people in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, 42 of which described cases of people being detained and disappearing or severe abuse and injuries like burns, broken bones, and various cuts.
“People interviewed described being tortured, or witnessing torture, through prolonged beatings and in some cases electric shocks,” the report said.
Three members of Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces being held as prisoners of war were documented by the Human Rights Watch. Two of the members died.
Early in the invasions, citizens in the Kherson Province were the first to protest against the Russian invaders. The protests were followed by violent repressions, with insurgents bombing and attacking Russian proxy leaders, helping Ukraine reclaim their territory.
