In an oral update to members, Erik Møse, Chairman of the Investigative Committee on Ukrainesaid that new cases of torture by Russian authorities against civilians and prisoners of war in occupied territories in Ukraine and the Russian Federation have been documented.
“We have collected evidence of sexual violence used as torture, mainly against male victims in detention, and of rape of women in villages under Russian control,” he said. said.
“The wide geographical spread of locations where torture was committed and the prevalence of shared patterns indicate that torture has been a common and acceptable practice by the Russian authorities, with a sense of impunity“, he added.
Consistency and coordination
The three-member commission was established about a week after Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. The commission has previously stressed that torture by Russian authorities is both widespread and systematic.
Mr Møse said that recent research shows that the Russian authorities have committed torture in Ukrainian regions under Russian control. This confirms the finding that torture is widespread, but that there are also other common elements that confirm that it is systematic.
“One element is the consistency of practices in detention centres where prisoners from Ukraine have been held in the Russian Federation, and the replication of these practices in several large penitentiary centres in occupied territories of Ukraine,” he said.
“Another common element emerging from the evidence points to a coordinated use of personnel of specific services of the Russian Federation involved in torture in all detention facilities examined by the Commission. Another common feature is the repeated use of sexual violence as a form of torture in almost all of these detention facilities.”
Brutal treatment tolerated
The Commission has also quoted the testimonies of former prisoners who said that prison staff in the Russian Federation referred to orders to apply brutal treatment. Moreover, higher authorities in some institutions ordered, tolerated or took no action to stop this.
“For example, a witness in a detention centre in the occupied territories of Ukraine described the arrival of a correctional officer from the Russian Federation, who introduced himself to the prisoners and said: ‘I have broken everyone and I will do the same to you,’” Mr Møse said.
He noted that “a disturbing factor” reported in many detention facilities was the lack of adequate medical care.In one institution even prison doctors took part in the torture“, he added.
Explosion in Olenivka prison
Mr Møse said a shocking example was provided by the compelling testimonies of former prisoners at the Volnovakha Correctional Colony in Ukraine, better known as Olenivka, where an explosion on 29 July 2022 led to the deaths of many Ukrainian prisoners of war.
“According to them, no immediate medical attention was provided to dozens of others who suffered life-threatening injuries. Ukrainian military doctors, held in the colony, were the only ones who tried to provide first aid that night,” he said.
“They said they were helping their fellow soldiers in the dark and without medical equipment, using the small amount of supplies they had left in their own first aid kits and sheets as bandages. They saw many die that nightwhile the leadership of the Olenivka colony stood by and watched.”
Victims call for justice
According to Mr Møse, these violations have caused serious or irreparable physical harm and trauma to many victims, with major psychological consequences for both them and their families.
“Many victims expressed an urgent need for justice“, he said. “The Commission reiterates the importance of continued investigations, identification of perpetrators and accountability, as well as comprehensive support for victims.”
Attacks on hospitals and supermarkets
The Commission also continued to document attacks using explosive weapons that hit civilians in populated areas, with devastating consequences.
Investigations were conducted into attacks on medical facilities, cultural objects, residential buildings and supermarkets in areas under the control of the Ukrainian government.
He said Repeated waves of large-scale attacks by Russia on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have led to power outages, sometimes affecting millions of people.where mainly the elderly and people with difficulties are affected.
The power outages have also led to disruptions in online education, resulting in greater losses for displaced children and children with disabilities, who are more likely to enroll in distance learning.
Commission of Inquiry
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine was established on 4 March 2022 to investigate all alleged violations and abuses of human rights, violations of international humanitarian law and related crimes in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
The Commission receives its mandate from the Human Rights Council and its members are not UN staff and receive no payment for their work.
