HRW denounces “summary executions” and “apparent war crimes” in areas under Russian control in Ukraine

human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) denounced this Sunday in a report that in the areas of Ukraine “Summary executions” and “other serious abuses” that could amount to war crimes have been committed under Russian control.

Between February 27 and March 14, the NGO claims to have documented several cases in which Russian forces committed what would constitute war crimes against civilians in occupied areas in the regions of Chernigov, Kharkiv and Kyiv.

According to a statement from the organization, these cases include a rape, two summary executions, of six men on one occasion and one on another, and other instances of violence and threats against civilians.

The summary executions documented on the basis of interviews with witnesses took place on March 4 in Buchanorthwest of the capital, and on February 27 in Staryi Bykiv, in the Chernigov region (north).

Bodies lie in a street in Bucha, northwest of kyiv, as Ukraine says Russian forces are making a “rapid withdrawal” from northern areas. (RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP). (RONALDO SCHEMIDT/)

On this last case, A neighbor from a nearby town who spoke to eyewitnesses told HRW that while people took refuge in basements due to mortar fire and soldiers went from house to house and took men supposedly for interrogation.

“We found them lying around with bullet holes in their heads. Their hands were tied behind their backs.” told the organization “Viktoria”, the mother of one of the six executed youths, adding that the soldiers did not let her pick up the body for several days.

On Buchaa suburb of Kyiva woman interviewed by HRW recalled that the Russian forces gathered neighbors in the square and inspected the identity documents and mobile phones of those present, in addition to asking who belonged to the territorial defense forces.

Later five men were brought in and ordered to kneel on the ground. “One of them was shot in the head,” the woman declared, adding that the Russian commander told the rest of the neighbors: “We are here to cleanse you of this scum.”

On the other hand, a 31-year-old woman from the Kharkov region (northeast) told the NGO that a Russian soldier raped her repeatedly at the school where she was taking refuge with her family, and also beat her and cut her face and neck with a knife.

“All the time he pointed his gun at my temple or face. Twice he shot at the ceiling and said it was to give me more motivation”, said the woman, identified as “Olga” who was in the school shelter with her five-year-old daughter.

The woman later walked with her family from the town of Malaya Rohan to Chernigov, where she received medical assistance and contacted the authorities to report the incident.

HRW added that it has received other allegations of sexual violence by Russian soldiers in the Chernigov region and in Mariupol (south), but has not been able to independently verify them.

“Cases of rape, murder and other violent acts against the population guarded by Russian forces should be investigated as war crimes,” said HRW Europe director Hugh Williamson.

“Russia has a legal obligation to impartially investigate the alleged war crimes of its soldiers,” he added.

Following the withdrawal of Russian forces from the northern suburbs of kyiv, Ukrainian media have reported the discovery of dozens of lifeless bodies handcuffed, abandoned in the streets, in what appear to have been summary executions.

the mayor of BuchaAnatoli Fedoruk, affirmed yesterday that the local authorities collected 280 bodies from the streets and buried them in a mass grave.

Source: Elcomercio