United Nations (UN) Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, has said Russian occupiers tortured Ukrainians so brutally that some of their victims died, and forced families to listen as they raped women next door.
The chairman of the commission of inquiry on Ukraine, Erik Mose said this to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva yesterday.
Mose said his team had “collected further evidence indicating that the use of torture by Russian armed forces in areas under their control has been widespread and systematic.
He also said in some cases, torture was inflicted with such brutality that it caused the death of the victim.
“Russian soldiers raped and committed sexual violence against women of ages ranging from 19 to 83 years” in occupied parts of Kherson province, Mose said.
He added that too often, families were kept next door and forced to hear the violations.
Russia has denied committing such atrocities or targeting civilians in Ukraine.
He said the commissions attempted to communicate with Russia but the country did not respond.
Report says Russia was given an opportunity to respond to the allegations at the council hearing but no Russian representative attended.
The Russian ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.