The non-governmental organization (NGO) Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Russian forces on Friday of being responsible for the disappearance and torture of civilians in southern Ukraine, in the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions.
“Russian forces also tortured prisoners of war held there,” it added in a statement.
“Russian forces have turned the occupied areas of southern Ukraine into an abyss of fear and savage anarchy,” said Human Rights Watch’s senior Ukraine researcher.
Yulia Gorbunova stated that “torture, inhuman treatment, as well as arbitrary detention and illegal confinement of civilians, are among the apparent war crimes (…) documented, and the Russian authorities must put an immediate end to such crimes.” abuses”. understand that they can, and will be, responsible.
HRW spoke to 71 people in the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions who described 42 cases of torture and disappearance of civilians by the Russian occupation forces.
The NGO also documented the torture of three members of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces, who were prisoners of war. Two of them died.
“The purpose of the abuse appears to be to obtain information and instill fear into people’s acceptance of the occupation, as Russia seeks to assert sovereignty over the occupied territory in violation of international law,” Human Rights Watch said.
“People interviewed described being tortured, or witnessing torture, through prolonged beatings and, in some cases, electric shocks. They described injuries including broken ribs and other bones and teeth, severe burns, concussions, leaking blood vessels in the eyes , cuts and bruises.”, he detailed.
