UN Human Rights Council: The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine presents the latest report on human rights violations committed during the Russian armed aggression
On March 19, 2025, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, an independent body mandated by the United Nations Human Rights Council, presented to the latter the results of their investigations into alleged human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law in the context of Russia's armed aggression in Ukraine, as detailed in their latest report A/HRC/58/67.
Evidence gathered revealed that Russian authorities have systematically committed enforced disappearances of civilians, including local authority members, public employees, journalists, and prisoners of war, in Ukraine's occupied provinces. According to the Commission, these actions are an expression of a specific state policy and constitute crimes against humanity. Indeed, many of these people have been imprisoned in detention facilities in Ukrainian areas under their control or deported to Russia, and subjected to torture and sexual violence. Some members of the Federal Security Service are also responsible for these crimes, whose presence in such facilities has been confirmed by the investigations carried out. In particular, they are to be attributed the order and/or execution of various forms of torture, especially during interrogations of detainees. The families of the disappeared live in a state of distressing suspension, to which the Russian authorities themselves contribute by providing vague responses to their appeals, depriving them of certain information about the situation of their loved ones and denying any form of legal protection to the victims.
The recurrent perpetration of sexual violence as torture on men had already been investigated by the Commission. The latest report highlights a critical increase in cases of rape and sexual violence against female prisoners. This has led the Commission to state that Russian authorities are responsible for rape as a war crime and sexual violence as torture.
An unusual increase in the wounding or killing of Ukrainian soldiers captured or surrendered to Russian authorities has also been noted. However, interviews conducted by the Commission with some Russian deserters revealed that these occurrences are the result of orders received from above, and are therefore also part of a clear political strategy.
The Commission also examined some human rights violations committed by Ukrainian soldiers against individuals suspected of collaborationism, while on both sides the use of drones to kill or further strike helpless wounded soldiers, thus committing a war crime, has been recorded.
Finally, the Commission denounced the lack of availability from Russian authorities to provide information on some probable attacks carried out by Ukraine, while urging the pursuit of judicial accountability in all its forms, thus supporting the realization of a sustainable peace process.