The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights announced that since February 24, 2022, 8,400 civilians have been killed and another 14,000 injured as a result of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
But these numbers, as the UN human rights defender said, "are only the tip of the iceberg." Most of the victims died as a result of the use of large-caliber explosive devices by Russian troops in residential areas.
The High Commissioner informed the Council that UN experts have documented mass executions and deliberate attacks on civilians by the Russian Armed Forces and armed groups such as Wagner in the occupied territories of Ukraine.
"During interviews with 89 citizens released from prison, it was found that 91% of them were subjected to torture or cruel treatment by Russian personnel, including various forms of sexual violence," said the High Commissioner of the UN Human Rights Council.
According to him, most of the 109 cases of sexual violence committed by Russians took place in prisons. Others, including the rape of women, have been documented in areas controlled by Russian forces. Three of the raped girls are under 18 years old.
During the same period, the UN Office for Human Rights recorded 91 cases of violence and arbitrary arrests involving Ukrainian security forces. Of the 73 victims interviewed by the UN Human Rights Office, 53% said they had been tortured or ill-treated.
Noting that Russia's war against Ukraine is horrifying the whole world, the High Commissioner reminded that the prices of food, energy, fertilizers, and other necessary goods have increased sharply, which has led to the increase of inequality in all regions. Today, more than 71mn people around the world live below the poverty line.
In this regard, the chief human rights defender of the UN noted the importance of the grain transport agreement through the Black Sea and called for its validity period to be extended - the current agreement expires in May.
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