Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine: latest report
/
2:36
/
MP4
/
190.8 MB

Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC

HRC - Press Conference: Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine - 15 March 2024

STORYLINE

New evidence of widespread and systematic torture by Russian forces in Ukraine, say UN-appointed independent rights investigators

Fresh evidence of severe and systematic abuse, including likely war crimes, perpetrated by Russian forces in Ukraine were revealed on Friday by UN-appointed independent rights investigators.

“The new evidence strengthens the Commission's previous findings that torture used by Russian authorities in Ukraine and in the Russian Federation has been widespread and systematic. The latest investigation focused on cases of torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war,” said Erik Møse, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, speaking to reporters at the United Nations in Geneva.

The report highlights an escalation in civilian suffering two years following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces, attributing the violations to a disregard for fundamental humanitarian principles and to the obligations to uphold human rights.

The findings reflect information gathered from March 2023 to March 2024, when the Commission travelled to Ukraine 16 times, visiting 34 settlements in nine provinces and interviewing 816 people.

The siege and indiscriminate bombardment of Mariupol were an additional focus of the report, which assessed the grave impact on civilians of the fighting from the outset of the full-scale invasion until the end of May 2022.

Fighting in Mariupol city damaged or destroyed at least 58 medical buildings, according to the data gathered by the Commission.

“Residents described unbearable suffering endured during relentless shelling and aerial bombardments which caused large scale death, injury and destruction,” said Mr. Møse. “People interviewed by the Commission recalled seeing large number of dead bodies on the streets, in the rubble of their houses and in the city's hospitals.”

Incidents of rape and other sexual violence were also examined in the Commission's report.

“The Commission investigated incidents of rape and other sexual violence committed against women in circumstances which also amount to torture. It also details incidents of torture with a sexualized dimension and threats of rape against Ukrainian male prisoners of war,” said Commission member Vrinda Grover.

The investigations found additional evidence concerning the unlawful transfer of children to areas under Russian control. “In its current report, it concludes that the transfer of a group of 46 children from the Kherson regional children home to Crimea was not temporary and hence amounts to war crime of unlawful transfer,” Ms. Grover said.

According to the Commission, indiscriminate attacks by Russian forces have led to the destruction and damage of civilian objects, including those that are protected under international law – such as hospitals and cultural property.

“In this report, the Commission has documented for the first-time attacks by Russian authorities affecting cultural property and seizure of cultural objects,” noted Vrinda Grover.

“We have found that in the summer of 2023, the Russian armed forces committed indiscriminate attacks in Odessa city, affecting several buildings and the Transfiguration Cathedral located in the historic center,” she added.

The attacks were, at the time, severely condemned by UNESCO, as violence against cultural heritage of Ukraine that stands in contravention of international conventions on the protection of cultural property and world heritage.

-ends-

STORY: Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine – Latest report

TRT: 2:35”

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 15 March 2024 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

  1. Exterior medium shot: UN flag alley
  2. Wide shot: speakers at the press conference with photographers in front of them
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) – Erik Møse, Chair of the Commission: “The new evidence strengthens the Commission's previous findings that torture used by Russian authorities in Ukraine and in the Russian Federation has been widespread and systematic. The latest investigation focused on cases of torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war.”
  4. Wide shot: speakers at the press conference with journalists in the room
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) – Erik Møse, Chair of the Commission: “Residents described unbearable suffering endured during relentless shelling and aerial bombardments, which caused large scale death, injury and destruction. People interviewed by the Commission recalled seeing large number of dead bodies on the streets, in the rubble of their houses and in the city's hospitals.”
  6. Wide shot: speakers at the podium from behind with photographers
  7. SOUNDBITE (English) – Vrinda Grover, Commissioner: “In this report, the Commission has documented for the first-time attacks by Russian authorities affecting cultural property and seizure of cultural objects. We have found that in the summer of 2023, the Russian armed forces committed indiscriminate attacks in Odessa city, affecting several buildings and the Transfiguration Cathedral located in the historic center.”
  8. Wide shot: speaker at the podium with journalists and photographers in press room
  9. SOUNDBITE (English) – Vrinda Grover, Commissioner: “The Commission investigated incidents of rape and other sexual violence committed against women in circumstances which also amount to torture. It also details incidents of torture with a sexualized dimension and threats of rape against Ukrainian male prisoners of war.”
  10. Close up: photographers taking pictures
  11. SOUNDBITE (English) - Vrinda Grover, Commissioner: “In its current report, it concludes that the transfer of a group of 46 children from the Kherson regional children home to Crimea was not temporary and hence amounts to war crime of unlawful transfer.”
  12. Wide shot, photographers taking pictures
  13. Medium shot, speakers at podium
  14. Close up, journalist taking photos with phone


Audio Files 3
Download HRC - Press Conference: Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine - 15 March 2024 (Continuity)
Download
Download Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine: latest report (Edited Story)
Download
Download Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine: latest report (Continuity)
Download

Similar Stories

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Remarks to HRC 60 Urgent debate

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Remarks to HRC 60 Urgent debate ENG FRA

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk addressed the Human Rights Council during a meeting on the Israeli strike on negotiators in Qatar on Tuesday. “Israel’s strike on negotiators in Doha on 9 September was a shocking breach of international law, an assault on regional peace and stability, and a blow against the integrity of mediation and negotiating processes around the world,” he said.

Gaza Al-Mawasi update - UNICEF

1

1

1

Edited News | UNICEF

Gaza Al-Mawasi update - UNICEF ENG FRA

Gaza: Thirsty and starving, war-battered families face ‘inhumane’ evacuation 

As bombs continue to fall on Gaza City as part of the intensifying Israeli military operation, families with starving children are being pushed southwards from one “hellscape” to another, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 16 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | IOM , UNICEF

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 16 September 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations Children’s Fund and the International Organization for Migration.

HRC Press conference: Commission of Inquiry (COI) on OPT, including East Jerusalem, and Israel - 16 Sept. 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | HRC , UNOG

HRC Press conference: Commission of Inquiry (COI) on OPT, including East Jerusalem, and Israel - 16 Sept. 2025 ENG FRA

Latest report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.

OHCHR/ Special Procedures - Press conference: Special Rapporteurs on OPT - 15 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | OHCHR

OHCHR/ Special Procedures - Press conference: Special Rapporteurs on OPT - 15 September 2025 ENG FRA

Press briefing: Human rights situation in Gaza and across the occupied Palestinian territory

UNIDIR Press conference on Cluster Munitions - 15 September 2025

1

2

1

Press Conferences | UNIDIR

UNIDIR Press conference on Cluster Munitions - 15 September 2025 ENG FRA

Launch of the Cluster Munition Monitor 2025 report

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Elizabeth Throssell on DPRK

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Elizabeth Throssell on DPRK ENG FRA

New UN Human Rights report finds 10 years of increased suffering repression and fear

The UN Human Rights Office on Friday published a report on the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) since 2014. 

Afghanistan update - UNICEF UNHCR 12 September 2025

1

1

2

Edited News | UNICEF , UNHCR

Afghanistan update - UNICEF UNHCR 12 September 2025 ENG FRA

The ongoing humanitarian response to the devastating Afghanistan earthquake disaster continued on Friday, although essential services have been cut for operational reasons following reinforced Taliban restrictions on women working with the UN, the global body said.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 12 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | WIPO , WMO , OHCHR , UNICEF , UNHCR , WHO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 12 September 2025 ENG FRA

Michele Zaccheo, Chief, UNTV, Radio and Webcast Section, United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Children's Fund, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, World Health Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization, World Meteorological Organization, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report on DRC at the 60th Human Rights Council

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report on DRC at the 60th Human Rights Council ENG FRA

Un nouveau rapport du Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l'homme sur la République démocratique du Congo évoque le spectre de crimes de guerre et de crimes contre l'humanité dans le Nord et le Sud-Kivu., 

HRC60 Press Conference: Report of the Sudan Fact-Finding Mission - 09 September 2025

2

1

2

Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC

HRC60 Press Conference: Report of the Sudan Fact-Finding Mission - 09 September 2025 ENG FRA

A high-level independent rights probe into the Sudan crisis on Tuesday condemned the many grave crimes committed against civilians by all parties to the war, citing disturbing evidence indicating that they had been “deliberately targeted, displaced and starved”.

Ukraine attacks - health update - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Ukraine attacks - health update - WHO ENG FRA

Ukraine: ‘Relentless’ attacks rattle health system as winter approaches: WHO

Ambulances attacked, chronically ill patients lacking care and no peace in sight: for millions of Ukrainians, the run-up to another winter of war is just the latest life-or-death challenge they face, the UN health agency (WHO) said on Tuesday.