HRC OHCHR report on Ukraine 09 October 2023
/
3:14
/
MP4
/
372.9 MB

Edited News | HRC , OHCHR , UNITED NATIONS

Ukraine: “Blatant and unabated violations of human rights”, UN deputy rights chief

Ukraine: Russian forces implicated in ‘blatant and unabated violations’, says UN deputy rights chief

The widespread use of torture, arbitrary detention and conflict-related sexual violence continue to be committed in Ukraine more than 18 months since Russia’s full-scale armed attack, the UN deputy rights chief said on Monday.

“From 1 February to 31 July 2023, another 4,621 civilians fell victim to this conflict, with 1,028 killed and 3,593 injured,“ said Nada Al-Nashif, presenting the latest report of the Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine to the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

“Most of these documented casualties occurred in territory controlled by Ukraine. The actual figures are likely higher, as many reports of civilian casualties are still pending corroboration and OHCHR does not have access to the occupied territory of Ukraine and limited access to the areas close to the frontline”.

The report’s findings are the result of 117 field visits, 27 inspections of detention centres, 28 visits to care institutions or shelters, the observation of 23 trial hearings and insight gained from 1,226 interviews with victims, witnesses, relatives and legal representatives.

The report concludes that torture remains a brutal reality for civilians and prisoners of war held by Russian authorities.

“Our March report on the treatment of prisoners of war and persons hors de combat as well as our June report on detention of civilians in the context of the armed attack by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, show that Russian authorities use of torture and ill treatment against both civilians and prisoners of war has been widespread,” said Ms. Al-Nashif.

The testimonies of survivors describe “a cruelty that is difficult to imagine, including terrifying accounts of electric shocks, sexual violence and severe beatings, which in some instances led to broken bones and smashed teeth”.

Previously documented patterns of sexual violence, primarily involving Russian armed forces, law enforcement authorities and penitentiary staff continue to happen, according to Ms Al-Nashif. Between 1 February to 31 July 2023, “OHCHR documented five acts of conflict-related sexual violence by members of Russian armed forces and Russian penitentiary services”, she noted.

In its report, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) also expressed deep concern “that there is no established system to return Ukrainian children who were transferred to other regions in Russian occupied territory or to the Russian Federation”.

Among the children reunited with their family after relatives travelled to the Russian Federation to retrieve them, “some have described experiencing or witnessing psychological or physical violence by educational staff there”, the OHCHR report noted .

The report also deplored that “Russian authorities have taken no discernible steps to ensure accountability for violations committed by their own security forces” It pointed to a new law adopted in June 2023 that effectively grants amnesty to Russian servicepersons for an overly broad range of crimes, reinforcing an atmosphere of impunity.

Devastating long-term effects will also be felt by the collapse of the Black Sea Initiative, emphasized the report, in reference to the UN-brokered plan agreed by Russia, Türkiye and Ukraine, which had allowed millions of tonnes of grain and other foodstuffs to leave Ukraine’s ports. “Following its withdrawal from this lifeline agreement, we have seen an increase in the number of attacks by the Russian Federation that affect infrastructure related to grain export. Some of these attacks also cause damage to surrounding civilian infrastructure and Odessa's historic buildings,” said Ms. Al-Nashif.

Speaking from Ukraine to the Human Rights Council, the country’s First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Emine Dzhaparova, raised concern about the “arbitrary and incommunicado detention of civilians, the policy of mass conferral of Russian citizenship, harassment and criminal prosecution, forceful conscription to the Russian army remain part and parcel of Russia's control over Ukrainian temporarily occupied territories, including my beloved homeland Crimea.”

The representative of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the UN in Geneva, Mr. Yaroslav Eremin, said that he “fundamentally disagree(d) with the methodology, content and conclusions to yet another OHCHR report...Instead of acting in line with its mandate and fully describing the deteriorating human rights situation in Ukraine, the OHCHR is continuing to whitewash Kyiv and shifting the blame for the crimes of the Ukrainian authorities on our country.”

-ends-

STORY: HRC OHCHR report on Ukraine

TRT: 3 min 14s

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 9 October 2023 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

  1. Exterior medium shot: UN flag alley, UN Geneva
  2. Wide shot: Human Rights Council room
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) – Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR): “From the 1st of February to the 31st of July of this year, another 4621 civilians fell victim to this conflict, with 1028 killed, 3593 injured. Most of these documented casualties occurred in territory controlled by Ukraine. The actual figures are likely higher, as many reports of civilian casualties are still pending corroboration, and OHCHR does not have access to the occupied territory of Ukraine and limited access to the areas close to the frontline.”
  4. Medium shot: Human Rights Council room
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) – Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR): “Our March report on the treatment of prisoners of war and persons hors de combat as well as our June report on detention of civilians in the context of the armed attack by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, show that Russian authorities use of torture and ill treatment against both civilians and prisoners of war has been widespread.”
  6. Medium shot: Human Rights Council room
  7. SOUNDBITE (English) – Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR): “OHCHR documented five acts of conflict[1]related sexual violence by members of Russian armed forces and Russian penitentiary services.”
  8. Wide shot: Human Rights Council room
  9. SOUNDBITE (English) – Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR): “OHCHR remains gravely concerned that there is no established system to return Ukrainian children who were transferred to other regions in Russian occupied territory or to the Russian Federation. Among the children who reunited with their family after relatives travelled to the Russian Federation to retrieve them, some have described experiencing or witnessing psychological or physical violence by educational staff there.”
  10. Wide shot: Human Rights Council room
  11. SOUNDBITE (English) – Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR): “Following its withdrawal from this lifeline agreement, we have seen an increase in the number of attacks by the Russian Federation that affect infrastructure related to grain export. Some of these attacks also cause damage to surrounding civilian infrastructure and Odessa's historic buildings.”
  12. Wide shot: Human Rights Council room
  13. SOUNDBITE (English) – Emine Dzhaparova, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ukraine: “Arbitrary and incommunicado detention of civilians, the policy of mass conferral of Russian citizenship, harassment and criminal prosecution, forceful conscription to the Russian army remain part and parcel of Russia's control over Ukrainian temporarily occupied territories, including my beloved homeland Crimea.”
  14. Wide shot: Human Rights Council room
  15. SOUNDBITE (English) – Yaroslav Eremin, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the UN in Geneva: “We fundamentally disagree with the methodology, content and conclusions to yet another OHCHR report. Instead of acting in line with its mandate and fully describing the deteriorating human rights situation in Ukraine, the OHCHR is continuing to whitewash Kiev and shifting the blame for the crimes of the Ukrainian authorities on our country. Such an approach is unacceptable for a UN Secretariat.”
  16. Medium shot: Human Rights Council room
  17. Close shot: Human Rights Council room
  18. Wide shot: Human Rights Council room
  19. Close shot: Human Rights Council room
  20. Medium shot: Human Rights Council room

Similar Stories

Gaza - Israel war 7 October 2025 - OCHA - UNICEF - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , WHO

Gaza - Israel war 7 October 2025 - OCHA - UNICEF - WHO ENG FRA

Two years of Gaza-Israel war bring ‘indescribable’ pain: UN humanitarians

Two years since the Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel, UN humanitarians on Tuesday reiterated calls for the release of all hostages in Gaza, an immediate ceasefire and an aid surge to alleviate Palestinians’ suffering, as talks on a US-driven peace plan continued in Egypt.

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025 ENG FRA

Syria prison survivor seeks justice for the missing with UN backing.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at Human Rights Council on Ukraine: “This war needs to end”

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at Human Rights Council on Ukraine: “This war needs to end” ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday warned that three and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine has entered an even more dangerous and deadly stage for Ukrainian civilians, under relentless bombardment of their schools, hospitals, and shelters.

30 minutes in a Gaza hospital - UNICEF - WHO - ICRC

1

1

1

Edited News | UNICEF , WHO , ICRC

30 minutes in a Gaza hospital - UNICEF - WHO - ICRC ENG FRA

Quadcopter victims, terror and death: 30 minutes in a Gaza hospital 

UN aid teams on Friday highlighted the disturbing situation in Gaza’s makeshift hospitals, where premature babies cry for scant oxygen and medics attempt to save child survivors targeted by airstrikes in their tents and quadcopter victims reportedly shot while fetching bread.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s Oral update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti

2

1

2

Edited News | OHCHR

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s Oral update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Thursday delivered his oral update to the UN Human Rights Council’s 60th session on the human rights situation in Haiti.

The High Commissioner welcomed Wednesday’s decision of the UN Security Council to strengthen the Multinational Security Support mission by transitioning to the Gang Suppression Force for Haiti, stating it is a strong signal of international support for the Haitian people.

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, OCHA 30 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, OCHA 30 September 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: As world waits for US peace plan news, UN aid teams stress need for ceasefire

UN agencies reiterated calls for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday to help alleviate Palestinian suffering, as a new US 20-point plan raised hopes of a halt to the fighting.

Gaza healthcare attacks – WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza healthcare attacks – WHO ENG FRA

The ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza City continues to overwhelm the war-torn enclave’s medical professionals, with four more hospitals forced to shut down this month alone, the UN World Health Organization said on Friday.

UN Report: Civilian detainees subjected to troubling patterns of torture and ill treatment since Russia’s full scale attack on Ukraine

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Report: Civilian detainees subjected to troubling patterns of torture and ill treatment since Russia’s full scale attack on Ukraine ENG FRA

A UN Human Rights report released today details the dire situation of thousands of civilians detained since Russia’s full-scale armed attack on Ukraine in 2022. 

Sudan cholera update WHO - UNICEF

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , UNICEF

Sudan cholera update WHO - UNICEF ENG FRA

Sudan war: Life-saving cholera vaccination campaign begins in Darfur

Amid the devastating war in Sudan, UN aid teams are overcoming major obstacles to curb a cholera outbreak claiming lives across the country, with young children particularly at risk.

Afghanistan earthquake response – UN Women 19 September 2025

2

1

2

Edited News , B-roll | UN WOMEN

Afghanistan earthquake response – UN Women 19 September 2025 ENG FRA

Women and girls still reeling from Afghanistan's recent deadly earthquake face even greater suffering rebuilding their lives and livelihoods without much more help from the international community, UN Women said on Friday.

UN report: Sudan crisis deepens amid rising civilian casualties - UN Human rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence and OHCHR Sudan Representative Li Fung

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN report: Sudan crisis deepens amid rising civilian casualties - UN Human rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence and OHCHR Sudan Representative Li Fung ENG FRA

Rising civilian casualties, growing ethnic violence and the grim humanitarian situation in Sudan underscore how the crisis there is deepening, according to a UN Human rights report published today.

'Not a Target' UN Geneva Protest - 18 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNITED NATIONS

'Not a Target' UN Geneva Protest - 18 September 2025 ENG FRA

United Nations agencies staff demonstrates on Place des Nations in Geneva to denounce the killing of their colleagues in Gaza.