- January 1, 2025
- 9:43 pm
- Ukraine
The human rights situation “remains grim” amid Russia's full-scale aggression, the UN Human Rights Office says. This is stated in the conclusion of the report of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, covering the period from September to November 2024 and published on December 31.
According to monitoring data, in September the total number of civilian casualties was the highest since July 2022, primarily due to increased Russian attacks in Donetsk, as well as the use of guided bombs and attack drones.
Overall, the mission recorded 574 civilian deaths over three months, with a further 3,082 injured.
“Every fact and every figure in this report is a story of loss and human suffering, demonstrating the devastating impact of war on all of Ukraine,” said MMPLU head Danielle Bell.
The UN recorded 93% of casualties in territory controlled by the Ukrainian government, in particular in the Donetsk, Kharkov and Kherson regions, where the intensity of hostilities “remains highest.”
The mission also noted Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure on November 17 and 28, which “continue to reduce the country's winter energy potential.”
In addition, the report contains data on cases of executions, torture and ill-treatment of prisoners of war:
“Since August 2024, the number of reliable reports of executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war has increased significantly. We are talking about at least 62 victims due to 19 incidents. The UN Human Rights Office/MMPLU conducted an independent review of the killings of 15 Ukrainian prisoners of war, based on eyewitness accounts and analysis of video and photographic evidence.”
The UN also cites recently released prisoners of war who reported that they suffered torture in Russian captivity – beatings, electric shocks and prolonged solitary confinement, as well as frequent cases of sexual violence.
Also, the UN states, Russia continues to strengthen control in the occupied territories – the occupation authorities demanded that residents obtain Russian citizenship in order to maintain property rights and confiscated houses recognized as “abandoned” after the forced displacement of their owners. The mission draws attention to the Russian Federation’s policy of “building loyalty” among children in the occupied territories:
“In the fall of 2024, a new course for 8th grade students was included in the school curriculum in the occupied territory, providing 170 hours of military training. The program includes an introduction to the main types of grenades, small arms, hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers and sniper rifles.”
According to the mission’s conclusions, the occupiers are restricting freedom of religion, in particular in relation to the Jehovah’s Witnesses community and the Muslim community in Crimea.
At the same time, the UN says there are “disproportionate restrictions on freedom of religion or belief” due to new legislation in Ukraine regarding religious organizations associated with similar structures in the Russian Federation.
“The report calls for changes to the law so that it fully complies with international human rights law,” the UN agency’s press service quotes.
The Russian military regularly attacks Ukrainian regions with various types of weapons – attack UAVs, missiles, KABs, RSZVs.
The Russian leadership denies that the Russian army, during a full-scale war, carries out targeted attacks on the civilian infrastructure of cities and villages of Ukraine, killing civilians and destroying hospitals, schools, kindergartens, energy and water supply facilities.
The Ukrainian government and international organizations qualify these strikes as war crimes by the Russian Federation and emphasize that they are targeted.
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