UN records more than 600 cases of abduction and detention of civilians by Russian military

This was stated by Head of the Mission Matilda Bogner at the presentation of two new reports – on the treatment of prisoners of war and the overall human rights situation in Ukraine for the six months up to January 31, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"In the occupied territories of Ukraine, we documented arbitrary executions and attacks on individual civilians by the armed forces of the Russian Federation, as well as widespread unlawful detentions and enforced disappearances. Since February 24, 2022, we have documented 621 cases of enforced disappearance and unlawful detention of civilians by the Russian armed forces," Bogner said.

She added that the Mission had interviews with 127 civilians who were detained and then released. Among them, 90% reported that representatives of the armed forces of the Russian Federation and the Russian security services tortured them and treated them cruelly during detention.

"In some cases, this included sexual violence," the Head of the Mission noted.

According to Bogner, during this period, the Mission also recorded 91 cases of enforced disappearance and unlawful detention committed by Ukrainian structures.

"Torture and arbitrary execution are absolutely prohibited. All violators must be brought to justice," Bogner emphasized.

As reported, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine documented that more than 8,000 civilians were killed and almost 14,000 civilians were injured as a result of the war.