Scale of Russia's atrocities against Ukrainian people since 2022 unprecedented - MFA

The scale of Russia's atrocities against the Ukrainian people since 2022 has been unprecedented, and the aggressor must be held accountable and forced to adhere to international norms, rather than seeking to destroy them.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said this in a statement on Human Rights Day, according to Ukrinform.

The ministry recalled that the international community had adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a response to the horrors of World War II.

"For more than a decade, Ukrainians have been subjected to gross human rights violations by the Russian Federation in the course of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Since February 2022, the scale of Russia's atrocities against the Ukrainian people has been unprecedented," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.

It added that the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine had caused immense suffering and pain to millions of people.

"This includes the forced relocation of entire families from temporarily occupied territories and combat zones, illegal deportation and forcible transfer of children, torture, inhumane treatment and extrajudicial executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians, arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances of civilians, as well as the systematic deprivation of rights and fundamental freedoms — such as the right to life and security — in temporarily occupied territories," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.

It stressed that Ukraine had always been and would remain committed to the principles of international law.

"Our common task is to restore the rule of law. The aggressor must be forced to comply with international norms, rather than destroy them. [...] Ukraine has made its choice: we are fighting for rights and fundamental freedoms, for values and for justice. We call on international partners to join our efforts to stop the aggressor and build a world where the rule of law and human rights are unwavering," the statement said.

The international community adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 76 years ago, on December 10, 1948, recognizing the inalienable rights of every person for the first time.