The United Nations (U.N.) on Friday accused Russian and Ukrainian military troops of executing dozens of prisoners of war. In addition, both sides were accused of torture and ill-treatment, according to a new report.
23 03 24 Ukraine Thematic Report POWs ENG by Verónica Silveri on Scribd
The report is based on an investigation where interviews were conducted with 432 soldiers, half of them Ukrainians who were released or exchanged, and the other half Russians still imprisoned in Ukraine to whom the U.N. team was able to gain access.
Both sides carried out executions
Matilda Bogner, head of the U.N. human rights monitoring mission, stated that they documented executions carried out by both sides on the battlefield:
We are deeply concerned about (the) summary execution of up to 25 Russian prisoners of war and persons hors de combat by the Ukrainian armed forces, which we have documented.We are also deeply concerned by the summary execution of 15 Ukrainian prisoners of war shortly after being captured by Russian armed forces. The Wagner group, military, and security contractors perpetrated 11 of these executions.
In her statement to the reports launch, @UNHumanRightsUA Head Matilda Bogner told about horrendous human cost, violence & ill-treatment of POWs in the context of the armed attack by the Russia against Ukraine. https://t.co/BfCLQ23sye
— UN Ukraine (@UN_Ukraine) March 24, 2023
Since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, both countries have accused each other of unethical practices.
Some soldiers “had their ribs, fingers or noses broken"
In the report, nine cases of executed Ukrainian soldiers were documented. Five of them were for torture and four for failure to receive medical care in internment centers.
Russian prisoners reportedly were executed, beaten and threatened with sexual violence. Some prisoners stated in the report that they had been tortured with electric shocks and other atrocious treatment:
Before questioning, they showed me an axe handle covered in blood as a warning. ...Some of them lost their teeth or fingers, had their ribs, fingers or noses broken.
All the cases cited in the report would be considered war crimes.
