Russian armed forces are systematically carrying out attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine, which, according to a new report by the UN Commission, constitute crimes against humanity. The document was presented to the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, which examines social, humanitarian and cultural issues, and was quoted by the BBC, reports News.bg.
According to the report, Russian drones regularly attack Ukrainian civilians, with the strikes resulting in death, injury and serious destruction. The Commission notes that these attacks are systematic and coordinated, targeting not only civilians and residential buildings, but also humanitarian aid distribution points, as well as emergency and firefighting teams, which enjoy special protection under international humanitarian law.
The report concludes that the actions of the Russian military include killings, forcible displacement of the population, deportations and transfers of civilians from the occupied territories. Some of these people, according to testimonies, were subjected to torture and inhuman treatment, violating fundamental human rights.
The conclusions are based on an analysis of around 500 video recordings documenting alleged crimes, of which 247 were verified on the spot for authenticity, as well as 226 interviews with Ukrainian citizens – eyewitnesses and victims.
The commission also examined Russia's allegations of Ukrainian drone attacks on civilian targets in areas occupied by Moscow, but was unable to draw conclusions due to lack of access, security concerns and the absence of a response from the Russian authorities.
The report will be discussed at a subsequent meeting of the General Assembly, with experts stressing that this is yet another official confirmation at the international level that Russian military actions violate the Geneva Conventions and may constitute crimes against humanity.