Hundreds of civilians were summarily executed in Ukraine during the first months of the country’s invasion by Russian forces, which constitute “probable war crimes”, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Thursday. of the Volker Türk Man.
This UN investigative commission recorded 441 summary executions and murders in three regions of Ukraine between the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 and April 6, Volker Türk pointed out, by presenting a report to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC).
Killings of 341 men, 72 women, 20 boys and eight girls were documented in 102 towns and villages in Kyiv, Chernigiv and Sumy regions during this period, according to the report.
“The true figures are likely higher and we are working to verify 198 additional murders in these areas,” the High Commissioner said.
“We have strong indications that these documented summary executions might constitute a war crime: intentional homicide,” he argued.
“In some cases, Russian soldiers executed civilians in makeshift detention facilities,” he said.
“Others were killed on the spot following a security check, at the entrance or inside their homes or in yards, even as the victims raised their hands and posed no threat,” continued the High Commissioner.
Men and boys make up 88% of the total victims, “suggesting they were targeted primarily because of their gender.”
In addition, Russian armored vehicles fired on buildings, killing civilians in their homes.
The High Commissioner continues to document violations of the rights of civilians in conflict zones outside the period studied in this report, the High Commissioner said.
UN investigators accused Moscow on September 23 of having committed a “considerable number” of war crimes in four Ukrainian regions in the first weeks following the Russian invasion.
On the other hand, they had judged that it was too early to speak of crimes once morest humanity, contrary to what NGOs and Ukraine claim.
