UN commission finds new evidence of mass torture of Ukrainians

The Commission announced this in its latest update to the UN Human Rights Council on Monday, Ukrinform reports.

"The wide geographic spread of locations and the prevalence of shared patterns in the way torture is committed demonstrate that torture has been used as a common and acceptable practice with a sense of impunity," the Commission said.

The Commission's further investigation into cases of torture provides evidence that "Russian authorities committed torture in the Ukrainian regions where they have taken control of territories," and "the new evidence reinforces the Commission's previous finding that torture committed by Russian authorities has been widespread."

"The Commission has identified additional common elements in the use of torture by Russian authorities, reinforcing its earlier finding that this was systematic. One element is the consistency of violent practices imposed in detention centers where detainees from Ukraine have been held in the Russian Federation, and the replication of these practices in several large penitentiary centers in occupied areas of Ukraine. Another common element emerging from the evidence points towards a coordinated use of personnel from specific services of the Russian Federation involved in torture in all the detention facilities investigated by the Commission," the update reads.

The Commission said that a further common feature was the recurrent use of sexual violence, mainly against male victims, as a form of torture in almost all of these detention centers.

Moreover, the Commission notes testimonies of former detainees about penitentiary personnel in the Russian Federation referring to orders to inflict brutal treatment. Testimonies also illustrate that in some detention facilities higher ranking Russian authorities ordered, tolerated, or took no action to stop such treatment.

The Commission has also continued its documentation of attacks with explosive weapons affecting civilian objects in populated areas with devastating consequences. It investigated attacks that struck medical institutions, cultural objects, residential buildings, and supermarkets in territories under Ukrainian Government control.

"Pursuing its investigation of Russian Federation's large-scale waves of attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure — some of which have resulted in power outages affecting millions of civilians — the Commission has found new evidence of the impact of such attacks on the health and well-being of the population," the update said.

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine was established by the Human Rights Council on March 4, 2022 according to resolution 49/1 to investigate all alleged violations and abuses of human rights, violations of international humanitarian law and related crimes in the context of Russia's aggression against Ukraine.