UN says evidence indicates the use of torture by Russian forces has been ‘widespread’

A UN investigation into human rights violations in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion has today warned that evidence indicates the use of torture by Russian forces has been “widespread and systematic”.

Speaking to the UN human rights council, the head of the investigation team, Erik Mose, said that the commission, which had travelled to Ukraine more than 10 times, “may also clarify whether torture and attacks on energy infrastructure amount to crimes against humanity”.

The commission had also “collected further evidence indicating that the use of torture by Russian armed forces in areas under their control has been widespread and systematic”, he said.

The torture was mainly taking place in detention centres controlled by Russian authorities, he said, adding that in some cases it was “inflicted with such brutality that it caused the death of the victim”, AFP reports.

In the Kherson region, the commission had found that “Russian soldiers raped and committed sexual violence against women of ages ranging from 19 to 83 years”.

Such acts were often accompanied by “threats or commission of other violations”, Mose said, adding that “frequently, family members were kept in an adjacent room, thereby forced to hear the violations taking place”.

The team, he said, also recalled the need for the Ukrainian authorities “to expeditiously and thoroughly investigate the few cases of violations by its own forces”.

Russia denies committing atrocities or targeting civilians in Ukraine. Russia was given an opportunity to respond to the allegations at the council hearing but no Russian representative attended, reports Reuters.