UN report on the situation in Ukraine

Last Wednesday, a report was published by the United Nations, the UN Human Rights Office, on “widespread violations” of international law in the occupied regions of Ukraine, where a “climate of fear” reigns.

Authors published document note that in an effort to consolidate their control over the population of these territories, the Russian authorities are everywhere violating international law there, imposing the Russian language, citizenship, laws, judicial system and educational programs. The report’s findings are based on more than 2,300 interviews with victims and witnesses who detail the situation there.

Actions of the occupying power structures

The document notes that in these regions manifestations of Ukrainian culture and identity are suppressed, and the Ukrainian system of governance is dismantled. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, commenting on the results of the study, says:

“The actions of the Russian Federation have torn apart the social fabric of communities and left individuals isolated, which has profound and long-term consequences for Ukrainian society as a whole.”

“General impunity”

Although the Russian Federation began its occupation of Ukrainian territory from Crimea in 2014, the report focuses on the situation in Ukraine, which fell under Russian occupation after a full-scale armed attack by the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022.

From the outset, Russian military forces, operating with general impunity, as stated in a press release from the UN Human Rights Office, have committed widespread abuses, including arbitrary detention of civilians, often accompanied by torture and ill-treatment. There have also been cases of forced disappearance. At first, Russian military forces persecuted individuals they considered posed a security threat, but over time, this repression expanded to anyone they believed opposed the occupation.

Russian troops, the report notes, used force to suppress peaceful protests, restricted freedom of expression, imposed strict controls on the movement of residents, and looted homes and businesses.

Control and encouragement of denunciation

The occupation authorities cut off television and radio channels, the Ukrainian Internet and mobile networks, and redirected all digital traffic through Russian networks, which made it possible to control the information available on the Internet. This prevented the population from freely receiving information from independent news sources, relatives or friends. People were strongly encouraged to inform on each other, causing them to fear even their friends and neighbors.

The UN report notes that certain actions of the Russian Federation aimed at suppressing manifestations of Ukrainian identity affected, in particular, children. Russia replaced the Ukrainian curriculum with the Russian one in many schools and introduced textbooks with narratives designed to justify an armed attack on Ukraine. She recruits children into youth groups to instill in them “Russian patriotism.”

Certification

The report pays special attention to obtaining Russian citizenship in the occupied territories. People are being pressured and forced to obtain Russian passports. Those who refused were subject to criticism from the authorities and restrictions on their freedom of movement. They were gradually denied employment in the public sector, access to health care and social security.

After de-occupation

The report details the situation in areas retaken by the Ukrainian army in late 2022, including Mykolaiv and parts of the Kharkiv and Kherson regions, which the UN Human Rights Office subsequently had access to. The document says:

“Ukraine’s invasion, occupation, and subsequent takeover of these areas left behind damaged homes and infrastructure, land contaminated with mines and explosive remnants of war, plundered resources, shattered local economies, and a traumatized, distrustful community.”

“Twice Casualty”

The report notes that the Ukrainian government is faced with the problem of resuming services in the liberated areas. Ukrainian authorities have had to contend with the consequences of violations of international humanitarian and human rights law during the occupation, including through a wide range of war crimes investigations.

Some people became victims twice – first during the Russian occupation, and then after liberation, when they began to be persecuted for collaboration. The report expresses concern about the vague language of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, which results in people being prosecuted on charges of collaborating with occupying authorities for actions they were lawfully carrying out under international humanitarian law, such as working to provide basic services. Prosecutions were also carried out against persons who collaborated with the occupation authorities under duress. The High Commissioner called on Ukraine to reconsider its approach:

“Such persecution has tragically led to some people being targeted twice – first during the Russian occupation and then again when they are persecuted for collaborating. This risk of potential prosecution has instilled fear among those who lived or are still living under the occupation and is increasing divisions.”

Stop the war

Once again the report calls for stopping the war. The High Commissioner called on Russia to immediately cease its armed attack on Ukraine and withdraw to internationally recognized borders, in accordance with UN General Assembly resolutions and international law. Turk said:

“Given the scale and depth of the violations suffered by those under occupation, a comprehensive approach to accountability is needed [за эти нарушения], including both criminal justice and broader measures that promote truth and redress. The international community must support Ukraine in all these aspects.”

In the photo: sappers clear the territory previously occupied by Russia between Nikolaev and Kherson.

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