The Commission to Investigate Human Rights Violations in Ukraine Presented Evidence to the UN of the Targeted Killing of Civilians by Russian Military
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine (IICIU) presented a new report to the UN General Assembly, which provides evidence of targeted attacks by Russian forces against civilians and infrastructure.
The authors of the document note that the attacks, which hit a wide range of civilian targets in an area stretching over 300 kilometers along the right bank of the Dnieper River, through Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, are systematic coordinated actions aimed at expelling Ukrainians from their homes.
“The attacks by the Russian Armed Forces were directed against individuals, houses and buildings, humanitarian aid distribution points and critical energy infrastructure serving the civilian population. They have also targeted emergency services, including ambulances and fire brigades, which are granted special protection under international humanitarian law. Many of the attacks have repeatedly targeted the same vehicles and infrastructure, deliberately setting them on fire, spreading terror among civilians and violating their fundamental human rights, the IICIU report said.
The document also notes that Russian authorities have coordinated actions to deport or relocate groups of people from the occupied territories. Some have been transferred to areas controlled by the Ukrainian government; others to neighboring Georgia.
The commission reports numerous cases of unlawful detention, torture, and confiscation of documents and property, which “caused severe mental pain and suffering and constitute inhuman treatment, which qualifies as a war crime and a violation of human rights.”
The commission’s findings are based on an analysis of approximately 500 open video footage of crimes (247 of which had technically confirmed crime scenes) and 226 interviews with Ukrainian citizens. The Commission also considered Russia’s claims of alleged Ukrainian drone attacks on civilian targets in the occupied territories, but was “unable to draw any conclusions due to the lack of access to the territory, concerns about the safety of witnesses, and the lack of response from the Russian authorities.”
The Independent International Commission on Human Rights in Ukraine was established by the UN Human Rights Council on 4 March 2022, pursuant to resolution 49/1. Its primary purpose is to investigate all possible violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The mandate of the Commission has been extended several times, most recently in April 2025, to enable it to continue reporting to the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly.
