UN Geneva - Multimedia Newsroom : HRC 60 - Human Rights in Ukraine

[Other language spoken]

Distinguished President Excellencies, on behalf of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, I'm pleased to provide an oral update on the investigation.

During its fourth mandate.

The armed conflict in Ukraine continues to have a devastating impact on the civilian population.

Attacks with explosive weapons in populated areas remain the leading cause of casualties among civilians.

Earlier this month, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that the total casualties increased by 40% in the first eight months of this year compared to 224.

The Commission is deeply concerned by the continuing civilian casualties due to relentless attacks with long range weapons that have intensified during the country.

It is also alarmed at this escalation in attacks against civilians with short range drones in frontline areas.

In May 225, our conference room paper, the Commission documented widespread and systematic attacks with short range drones by Russian armed forces targeted civilians in Haqsan Province.

We concluded that these acts have been committed pursuant to a coordinated state policy and amount to crimes against humanity of murder as well as war crimes of attacking civilians.

The Commission also determined that these crimes have the primary purpose of spreading terror among the population in violation of international humanitarian law.

Russian armed forces have been carrying out attacks from positions on the Left Bank on the Denipo rebel with the drones that allow real time observations and tracking of targets.

They pursued victims with drones and dropped explosive on them, causing deaths and injuries.

Drones have also obstruct ambulances and other emergency services, preventing them from reaching the victims.

Telegram channels run by the perpetrating units of the Russian armed forces themselves or by persons close to them, have disseminated hundreds of videos of civilians being killed or injured, which amounts to the war crime of outrageous upon dignity.

They have posted threatening text announcing further attacks and exhorting the population to leave.

As regards allegation made by Russian authorities of drone attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Commission has been not able to conclude its investigations due to lack of access to the territory, concerns relating to the safety of witnesses and in the absence of response to our questions addressed to the Russian Federation Distinguished President Excellences.

The Commission's current investigations demonstrate that drone units of Russian Armed Forces have carried out attacks on civilians and civilian objects not only in Harrison province, but also and in the NIPRO, Petrovsk and in Mikolaev provinces.

The evidence now confirms that the targeted localities span over 300 kilometres on the right Bank of the Denipo River, which is under Ukrainian government control.

In addition to attacking civilians while walking or using transport, Russian armed forces have targeted A wider raid of civilian objects, including residences, critical infrastructure and other buildings.

Drones had been directed also against first responders, ambulances and fire engines bearing distinctive marks, preventing them from intervening after the attacks.

The circumstances of the attacks show the perpetrator's intention to ****, harm and destroy.

As a result, whole localities suffered damage and destruction and became unlivable.

Essential services and shops have been unable to operate, a woman from a frequently targeted locality stated.

Drones chase us, we hide from them.

Drones sit on the rooftops and if they see something, there will be consequences.

The terror instilled in the population has compelled thousands to flee.

In the Commission's view, the conduct of the Russian armed forces may amount to the crime against humanity of forcible transfer of population.

The Commission will return to this point in its upcoming report to the General Assembly.

Turning to another topic, the Commission is currently investigating a pattern of deportations and transfer of adult civilians from the areas of Sapporicia province that are under Russian control.

The investigation on drone attacks and deportations reveal coordinated and organised efforts by the Russian authorities to further capture territory, as well as to consolidate their grip over areas they already controlled in Ukraine, while compelling local populations to leave Distinguished Presidents Excellences.

The violations and corresponding crimes documented have inflicted unspeakable suffering and hardship on the affected populations.

Recurrent attacks have gradually destroyed entire localities.

Many of the victims suffer from the love of loved one, from the loss of loved ones or of their homes and livelihoods and feel that they have lost everything close to the front lines.

All the persons have been particularly affected as many are unable to flee, making them vulnerable to risk of attacks.

It bears reiteration that during armed conflicts, it's imperative for states to respect the obligations to protect civilians, given the heightened risk to which they are exposed.

A report from 224 notes that there were 580 victims of land mines and explosive remnants of war in Ukraine in 223, placing it as the country with the fourth highest number of casualties recorded in that year.

The Russian Federation has never been a party to the Land Vine Convention.

Recently, Ukraine and five other European countries decided to withdraw from this treaty.

The Commission reiterates the importance of judicial and non judicial accountability as one of the means to fulfil the rights of the victims.

Avoiding impunity and holding perpetrators to account is key to securing sustainable peace.

[Other language spoken]

Mercy confirm a more and other practic new Commons from Par Montante the Delegacion they pay concern should construct A delegacion de la Federacion de Lucy NE papresent do la Sal eje don't don't la parole O pocura general de lucre Monsieur Ruslan Kravchenko por a massage bar video.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, esteemed members of the Commission, representatives of States and civil society, colleagues and partners, allow me to express my deep gratitude to the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine for its unwavering commitment and tireless work in documenting and investigating grave violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

As of September 10th 2025, more than 181,000 episodes of war crimes have been registered in Ukraine.

Russia's aggression has claimed the lives of at least 15 1/2 thousand civilians, including 653 children, while more than 35,000 others have been wounded.

The killing of civilians is a deliberate choice by Russia.

A telling example is the recent strike on the village of Yarova in Donetsk region.

On 9th of September, Russian forces dropped a guided bomb on the very centre of the settlement at the precise moment when people who were standing in line near a mobile post office unit to receive their payments.

Ordinary citizens were simply waiting for their pensions.

The enemy deliberately chose civilians as a target.

As a result of this hyenas crime, 25 Ukrainians who were killed and another 18 were wounded.

This atrocity once again demonstrates that Russia has turned deliberate attacks against civilians into a method of warfare because its army is incapable of fighting armed Ukrainians on the battlefield.

In addition, crimes involving the use of FPV drones are on the rise.

Since the beginning of 2024, more than 5200 such attacks have been recorded, which have killed over 315 people, wounded more than 2600 and destroyed thousands of civilian infrastructure facilities.

Local residents of the Herzon region say they are haunting us, and this is not a war fought on the battlefield, but a deliberate campaign of terror against the civilian population.

At this point, I wish to thank the Commission for its work and its conclusions regarding the presence of elements of crimes against humanity in these attacks.

Your report issued in May has been included in the materials of the pretrial investigation, and for the first time, following amendments to the national legislation, a criminal case has been registered in Ukraine under the article of crimes against humanity.

This investigation is ongoing.

Regarding forced deportation, I have to say that Russia has deported at least 27,700 Ukrainian citizens, including more than 11,000 children.

This is Russia's strategy of forcibly separating children from their families and assimilating them into Russian society.

At the same time, it has been established that the victims of this category of crimes are most often people with an active pro Ukrainian position, those who refuse to cooperate with the occupying authorities, to accept Russian passports or to recognise the imposed regime.

I also want to draw attention to the executions of Ukrainian soldiers.

This constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and has already become a systematic phenomenon.

At least 281 defenders are confirmed to have been summary executed, including the mass killing of 49 prisoners of war in Olenifka in July 2022.

The executions of disarmed soldiers are war crimes that have no statute of limitations.

At the same time, even under these circumstances, justice is possible.

Nearly one Russian servicemen have been notified of suspicion for Commission of war crimes, and more than 700 cases have been brought to court and 200 persons have already been convicted.

This sends a clear signal impunity will not prevail.

Justice for victims and their families is an integral part of a just peace.

The systematic nature of Russia's crimes demonstrates the urgent need to preserve the unity of the international community in supporting Ukraine and defending the international legal order.

A crucial component of countering Russia's international crimes must be the demonstration that accountability is inevitable and unlimited in time.

This applies first and foremost not to ordinary perpetrators, but to those who give orders, encourage or justify such crimes.

I extend my sincere appreciation to the UN Commission and your team for your tireless dedication and devoted work.

Results of your work bring us closer to justice and will have a lasting and significant impact on ensuring a just peace for Ukraine and the whole world.

I deeply appreciate your attention to this matter.

Thank you to an Ultra Massage Per video distinguished members of the Commission.

The Russian aggression against Ukraine has continued for over 11 years.

The aggressive state is committing mass human rights violations in Ukraine.

As a result, nearly 14,000 civilians have been killed and over 35,000 have been injured.

More than 650 children have died and nearly 2200 have been wounded.

The youngest victim was just two days old.

On August 28th this year, Russia attacked the heart of Europe, Kiev.

Again, 25 people were killed, including four children.

These are not all the crimes.

Russia is deporting Ukrainian children.

This is an act of genocide.

Russia is unlawfully detaining civilians and subjecting them to torture.

Russia is executing prisoners of war and torturing them.

Since February 24, 2022, Russian forces have killed over 270 Ukrainian PO double S Violations of international humanitarian law are part of Russia's systematic policy.

[Other language spoken]

The Commission to document these crimes and highlight gaps or outdated norms in international humanitarian law to support efforts to identify mechanisms for accountability to emphasise the root cause, Russia's aggression and disregard for international humanitarian law.

Thank you for your attention.

XC Jamit not know the delegacio enters say opposed the question or a Commission don't get formulae the commander so the control.

HRC 60 - Human Rights in Ukraine - 22 September 2025