The latest graphic findings from the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, created by the Human Rights Council two years ago, highlight the ongoing severe impact of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Testimonies from victims reveal brutal treatment, torture, and abuse inflicted on prisoners of war, including physical and mental trauma. One Ukrainian soldier, who attempted suicide after being repeatedly tortured and left with broken bones, broken teeth, and gangrene, shared his harrowing experience of inhumane treatment in a Russian prison.
The Commission of Inquiry reported accounts of relentless beatings, including causing bleeding from the anus, knocking out teeth, and inflicting severe injuries on the soldier’s foot and face. The testimonies also included instances of rape, beatings, threats of rape against male prisoners of war, and the use of electric shocks to hurt or humiliate detainees. The treatment of prisoners of war was described as horrific, with limited access to food, water necessities, and prolonged periods of abuse.
The 20-page report by the Commission of Inquiry relies on testimonies from hundreds of individuals to investigate alleged violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law by Russian forces and authorities. The report focuses on the indiscriminate bombardment of Mariupol, the use of torture and rape against civilians, prisoners of war, and alleged collaborators, the unlawful transfer of children from a care facility to Russian-occupied Crimea, and the destruction of cultural treasures. Commissioner Vrinda Grover emphasized that the evidence shows violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, indicating war crimes committed by Russian authorities.
The evidence presented by the Commission of Inquiry highlights the brutality and inhumanity of the treatment of prisoners of war by Russian forces and authorities. Victims of torture and abuse have suffered long-lasting physical and mental trauma, with some losing hope and the will to live. The testimonies of survivors shed light on the grave impact of Russia’s invasion on the lives of individuals in Ukraine, revealing the extent of the atrocities committed during the conflict.
The findings of the Commission of Inquiry underscore the urgent need for accountability and justice for the victims of human rights violations and war crimes in Ukraine. The international community must take action to hold those responsible for these heinous acts accountable and ensure that such atrocities are not repeated. The report serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding human rights and humanitarian law in times of conflict and crisis, and calls for greater efforts to protect the rights and dignity of all individuals affected by armed conflicts.
