“Today, we have published a report into the events of 5 October that concludes there are reasonable grounds to believe that the missile was launched by Russian armed forces, and that there was no indication of military personnel or any other legitimate military targets at or adjacent to the café at the time of the attack,” UN Human Rights spokesperson Liz Throssell told the bi-weekly briefing in Geneva.

The report was based on information collected and verified by our colleagues from the Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), who carried out two fact-finding missions to Hroza on 7 and 10 October. Colleagues inspected the site of the blast, and interviewed 35 people, including local residents, witnesses, two survivors, medical staff and morgue employees. 

“Those killed – 36 women, 22 men and an eight-year-old boy - were all civilians, attending the reception after the funeral and re-burial of a local man who was a member of the Ukrainian armed forces. The blast completely destroyed the café and a small shop,” said Throssell.

“Our report details the devastating impact of the missile strike on Hroza, with 15 families losing two or more family members,” she added.

“One man, Volodymyr, said he could not believe his wife, his son and daughter-in-law were gone. “I cannot sleep, I cannot eat…I walk around in hope to see my wife showing up from somewhere,” he said. Another resident recounted how her daughter’s friend could only be identified by her manicure when rescue workers discovered her hand. For many others, identification relied on DNA tests of bodily remains,” the spokesperson said.

“The report says that the Russian armed forces either failed to do everything feasible to verify that the target was a military objective, or deliberately targeted civilians or civilian objects. Either scenario would be in violation of international humanitarian law,” said Throssell.

The report urges the Russian Federation to conduct a full and transparent investigation to hold those responsible to account and to take measures to prevent similar attacks from happening in the future.  It  also calls on the Russian Federation to provide access to effective remedy, including appropriate reparations, for victims and families.  

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact: 

In Geneva

Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or 

Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org or 

Jeremy Laurence +  +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org or

Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / marta.hurtadogomez@un.org

In Nairobi

Seif Magango - +254 788 343 897 / seif.magango@un.org

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1. Exterior shot: Palais des Nations, Geneva.
2. Soundbite (English)— Liz Throssell UN Human Rights Spokesperson: “Today, we have published a report into the events of 5 October that concludes there are reasonable grounds to believe that the missile was launched by Russian armed forces, and that there was no indication of military personnel or any other legitimate military targets at or adjacent to the café at the time of the attack.”

Hroza, Kharkiv region Ukraine - 07 October 2023

1. B-roll: Hroza site of the blast makeshift memorial
2. Soundbite (English)— Liz Throssell UN Human Rights Spokesperson: “Those killed – 36 women, 22 men and an eight-year-old boy - were all civilians, attending the reception after the funeral and re-burial of a local man who was a member of the Ukrainian armed forces. The blast completely destroyed the café and a small shop.”

Hroza, Kharkiv region Ukraine - 07 October 2023

1. B-roll: Hroza site of the blast
2. Soundbite (English)— Liz Throssell UN Human Rights Spokesperson: “Our report details the devastating impact of the missile strike on Hroza, with 15 families losing two or more family members.”

Hroza, Kharkiv region Ukraine - 07 October 2023

1. B-roll: Hroza HRMMU staff speaking to local residents
2. Soundbite (English)— Liz Throssell UN Human Rights Spokesperson: “One man, Volodymyr, said he could not believe his wife, his son and daughter-in-law were gone. “I cannot sleep, I cannot eat…I walk around in hope to see my wife showing up from somewhere,” he said. Another resident recounted how her daughter’s friend could only be identified by her manicure when rescue workers discovered her hand. For many others, identification relied on DNA tests of bodily remains.”

Hroza, Kharkiv region Ukraine - 07 October 2023

1. B-roll: Hroza site of the blast
2. Soundbite (English)— Liz Throssell UN Human Rights Spokesperson: “The report says that the Russian armed forces either failed to do everything feasible to verify that the target was a military objective, or deliberately targeted civilians or civilian objects. Which in either event would be in violation of international humanitarian law.”

Hroza, Kharkiv region Ukraine - 07 October 2023

1. B-roll: Hroza site of the blast