(Warsaw) – Human Rights Watch has documented a number of instances of Russian army forces committing laws-of-war violations towards civilians in occupied areas of the Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Kyiv areas of Ukraine. These embody a case of repeated rape; two instances of abstract execution, considered one of six males, the opposite of 1 man; and different instances of illegal violence and threats towards civilians between February 27 and March 14, 2022. Troopers have been additionally implicated in looting civilian property, together with meals, clothes, and firewood. Those that carried out these abuses are chargeable for battle crimes.
“The instances we documented quantity to unspeakable, deliberate cruelty and violence towards Ukrainian civilians,” mentioned Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Rape, homicide, and different violent acts towards individuals within the Russian forces’ custody must be investigated as battle crimes.”
Human Rights Watch interviewed 10 individuals, together with witnesses, victims, and native residents of Russia-occupied territories, in particular person or by phone. Some individuals requested to be recognized solely by their first names or by pseudonyms for his or her safety.
On March 4, Russian forces in Bucha, about 30 kilometers northwest of Kyiv, rounded up 5 males and summarily executed considered one of them. A witness advised Human Rights Watch that troopers compelled the 5 males to kneel on the aspect of the street, pulled their T-shirts over their heads, and shot one of many males behind the top. “He fell [over],” the witness mentioned, “and the ladies [present at the scene] screamed.”
Russian forces within the village of Staryi Bykiv, in Chernihiv area, rounded up no less than six males on February 27, and later executed them, based on the mom of one of many males, who was close by when her son and one other man have been apprehended, and who noticed the useless our bodies of all six.
A 60-year-old man advised Human Rights Watch that on March 4, a Russian soldier threatened to summarily execute him and his son in Zabuchchya, a village northwest of Kyiv, after looking out their house and discovering a searching rifle and gasoline within the yard. One other soldier intervened to forestall the opposite soldier from killing them, the person mentioned. His daughter corroborated his account in a separate interview.
On March 6, Russian troopers within the village of Vorzel, about 50 kilometers northwest of Kyiv, threw a smoke grenade right into a basement, then shot a girl and a 14-year-old baby as they emerged from the basement, the place that they had been sheltering. A person who was together with her in the identical basement when she died from her wounds two days later, and heard accounts of the incident from others, offered the knowledge to Human Rights Watch. The kid died instantly, he mentioned.
A girl advised Human Rights Watch {that a} Russian soldier had repeatedly raped her in a college within the Kharkiv area the place she and her household had been sheltering on March 13. She mentioned that he beat her and minimize her face, neck, and hair with a knife. The following day the girl fled to Kharkiv, the place she was capable of get medical remedy and different providers. Human Rights Watch reviewed two images, which the girl shared with Human Rights Watch, exhibiting her facial accidents.
Most of the Ukrainian civilians we interviewed described Russian forces taking meals, firewood, clothes, and different objects reminiscent of chainsaws, axes, and gasoline.
All events to the armed battle in Ukraine are obligated to abide by worldwide humanitarian legislation, or the legal guidelines of battle, together with the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the First Extra Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, and customary worldwide legislation. Belligerent armed forces which have efficient management of an space are topic to the worldwide legislation of occupation. Worldwide human rights legislation, which is relevant always, additionally applies.
The legal guidelines of battle prohibit willful killing, rape and different sexual violence, torture, and inhumane remedy of captured combatants and civilians in custody. Pillage and looting are additionally prohibited. Anybody who orders or intentionally commits such acts, or aids and abets them, is chargeable for battle crimes. Commanders of forces who knew or had purpose to learn about such crimes however didn’t try to cease them or punish these accountable are criminally answerable for battle crimes as a matter of command accountability.
“Russia has a world authorized obligation to impartially examine alleged battle crimes by its troopers,” Williamson mentioned. “Commanders ought to acknowledge {that a} failure to take motion towards homicide and rape might make them personally chargeable for battle crimes as a matter of command accountability.”
For detailed findings, please see beneath.
Kharkiv Rape
On March 13, a Russian soldier beat and repeatedly raped Olha [not her real name], a 31-year-old lady in Malaya Rohan, a village within the Kharkiv area that Russian forces managed on the time.
Russian troopers entered the village on February 25, Olha mentioned. That day, about 40 villagers, largely ladies and women, have been sheltering within the basement of an area college. She was there together with her 5-year-old daughter, her mom, her 13-year-old sister, and her 24-year-old brother.
At round midnight on March 13, a Russian soldier forcibly entered the college, Olha mentioned: “He broke glass home windows on the entrance to the college and banged on the door.” A guard opened the door.
The soldier, who carried an assault rifle and a pistol, went into the basement and ordered everybody there to line up. The girl stood within the line holding her daughter, who was asleep. He advised her to present him the lady, however she refused. He advised her brother to come back ahead and ordered the remainder of the group to kneel, or, he mentioned, he would shoot everybody within the basement.
The soldier ordered her brother to observe him to assist discover meals. They left and got here again an hour or two later. The soldier sat down on the ground.
“Individuals began asking if they may go to the toilet and he allow them to, in teams of two and three,” Olha mentioned. After that, individuals began settling down for the evening. The soldier approached her household and advised her to observe him.
The soldier took her to a classroom on the second ground, the place he pointed a gun at her and advised her to undress. She mentioned: “He advised me to present him [oral sex]. The entire time he held the gun close to my temple or put it into my face. Twice he shot on the ceiling and mentioned it was to present me extra ‘motivation.’” He raped her, then advised her to take a seat on a chair.
She mentioned she was getting very chilly within the unheated college and requested if she may dress, however the soldier advised her she ought to solely placed on her high, not her pants or underwear. “Whereas I used to be placing on my garments, the soldier advised me that he was Russian, that his title was [name withheld] and that he was 20. He mentioned that I reminded him of a lady he went to highschool with.”
The soldier advised her to go to the basement and get her issues, in order that she may keep within the classroom with him. She refused. “I knew my daughter would cry if she noticed me,” she mentioned. The soldier received a knife and advised her to take action as he mentioned if she needed to see her baby once more. The soldier raped her once more, put a knife to her throat and minimize the pores and skin on her neck. He additionally minimize her cheek with the knife and minimize off a few of her hair. He hit her on the face with a e-book and repeatedly slapped her. Pictures that she shared with Human Rights Watch, dated March 19 and 20, present minimize marks and bruising on her neck and face.
At about 7 a.m. on March 14, the soldier advised her to search out him a pack of cigarettes. They went downstairs collectively. She requested the guard to present the soldier some cigarettes. After the soldier received the cigarettes, he left.
That day she and her household walked to Kharkiv, the place volunteers offered her with primary medical help. They moved right into a bomb shelter. “I’m fortunate to be alive,” she mentioned. She mentioned that the Malaya Rohan council authorities have been in contact together with her and her mom and that the authorities have been getting ready a felony grievance, which they plan to file with Ukraine’s prosecutor’s workplace.
Human Rights Watch acquired three different allegations of sexual violence by Russian troopers in different villages within the Chernihiv area and in Mariupol within the south however has not been capable of independently confirm them.
Abstract Killings, Different Violence
On February 27, Russian forces rounded up six males within the village of Staryi Bykiv, within the Chernihiv area, and summarily executed them. Tetiana, from Novyi Bykiv, which faces Staryi Bykiv, simply throughout the Supiy River, spoke with the kin of 4 of the lads who have been killed. She advised Human Rights Watch that on February 27, the bridge between Novyi Bykiv and Staryi Bykiv was blown up, and Russian forces shelled each villages. A column of Russian armored automobiles then entered Staryi Bykiv.
“Most individuals have been hiding of their basements due to shelling, and troopers went door to door,” Tetiana mentioned the households from Staryi Bykiv advised her. The troopers took six males from their properties:
They took six males from three totally different households. One mom had each of her sons taken [and shot]. One other younger man was in his early 20s, his title was Bohdan, I do know his mom properly, she advised me that the troopers advised her to attend close to her home whereas they took her son … to query him. They mentioned the identical factor to different households. As a substitute, they led these six males away, took them to the far finish of the village, and shot them.
Viktoria, Bohdan’s mom, interviewed individually, advised Human Rights Watch that on February 27:
They took my son, Bohdan [age 29], and my brother-in-law, Sasha [full name Olexander, age 39]. We have been within the basement [due to the shelling], so we didn’t see. They went out to smoke. Then our neighbor ran up and mentioned he noticed them taking Bohdan and Sasha away, and some different guys.
Viktoria ran to the road to ask Russian troopers on the checkpoint what had occurred. “They advised us to not fear, that [soldiers] would scare them a bit after which allow them to go,” she mentioned. “We walked away about 50 meters … and heard gunshots. It was about 6:20 p.m.”
Viktoria mentioned that the following day she and her sister went to the meadow and noticed the our bodies mendacity by a constructing there:
Three have been on one aspect of the constructing, however not my son and brother-in-law. We walked round to the opposite aspect and noticed [Bohdan and Sasha, and one more]. They have been laying there. There have been gunshots to their heads. Their arms have been tied behind their backs. I checked out my son’s physique, his pockets have been empty, he didn’t have his telephone, or keys or [identity] paperwork.
Viktoria requested troopers on the checkpoint for permission to gather the our bodies, however they refused. Heavy shelling continued the next days.
On March 7, Viktoria mentioned, they once more requested the troopers for permission to gather the our bodies: “On the checkpoint they advised us to go the cemetery, that they’d convey us the our bodies.… Everybody [all the neighbors] got here, like 75 individuals…. We buried all of them on the identical day, in separate graves.”
Viktoria mentioned that the opposite 4 males buried that day have been Volodymyr, 40, one other Olexander, 40, and two brothers, Ihor, 31, and Oleh, 33.
Tetiana mentioned the troopers additionally took the entire villagers’ wooden, leaving them nothing for cooking or heating their properties.
On March 4, Russian forces summarily executed a person in Bucha, 30 kilometers northwest of Kyiv, and threatened to execute 4 others, mentioned a instructor who witnessed the killing. She mentioned she heard capturing at about 7 a.m. and noticed three Russian armored automobiles and 4 Kamaz [Russian brand] vehicles driving down her avenue. She was sheltering within the cellar together with her two canines when she heard glass breaking, after which her entrance door being damaged down. Voices outdoors mentioned [in Russian]: “Come outdoors proper now or we are going to throw a grenade.”
She yelled that she was alone within the cellar and got here out together with her arms up.
“There have been three males outdoors, two [Russian] troopers and a commander,” she mentioned. “They took my telephone and checked it, then advised me to get my [identification] paperwork and include them.” As she walked down the road with the troopers, she noticed that they have been additionally rounding up her neighbors and ordering them to stroll. She mentioned:
They took us to the place the workplace of AgroButpostach [a rental storage company] was once. Proper subsequent to the constructing, there’s a parking zone and a small sq.. They gathered individuals at that sq., largely ladies however there have been additionally a number of males amongst us, over 50 [years old]. There have been round 30 army there and the commander had [paratrooper] insignia [on his fatigues]. He spoke with an accent from western or central western Russia…. I used to be born in Russia myself, so I decide up on such issues. The troopers have been all skinny and regarded the more severe for put on.
She mentioned that the troopers led to 40 individuals to the sq., gathered everybody’s telephones, checked paperwork, and requested who was in territorial protection, or native self-defense items:
Two ladies requested to go to the toilet. One among them was pregnant. I requested to go together with them. A soldier confirmed us the best way to the bathroom, which was across the constructing, I believe it was now their headquarters. The constructing was lengthy. Alongside the wall on the opposite aspect, we noticed a big pool of blood.
She mentioned they waited within the sq. for hours within the very chilly climate:
At one level they introduced in a single younger man, then 4 extra. The troopers ordered them [to] take off their boots and jackets. They made them kneel on the aspect of the street. Russian troopers pulled their T-shirts, from behind and over their heads. They shot one behind the top. He fell. Girls screamed. The opposite 4 males have been simply kneeling there. The commander mentioned to the remainder of the individuals on the sq.: “Don’t fear. You might be all regular – and that is dust. We’re right here to cleanse you from the dust.”
She mentioned that after a number of extra hours the troopers took the individuals again to their properties. The opposite 4 males remained kneeling when she left.
She mentioned that when she was capable of go away the city on March 9, the younger man’s physique was nonetheless mendacity the place he had been shot.
Dmytro, 40, advised Human Rights Watch that he and his household fled the closely shelled metropolis of Bucha on March 7. He mentioned that they didn’t know of any protected evacuation routes, in order that they walked – wrapped in white sheets and waving white sheets within the air – for about 5 kilometers to the village of Vorzel.
As soon as in Vorzel, they sheltered for 2 nights within the basement of a two-story constructing, with a bunch of native residents. Dmytro mentioned that there was a girl with them within the basement who had chest and leg wounds. Different individuals within the basement advised him that she had been shot the day earlier than, when Russian troopers stormed that very same basement and threw a smoke grenade inside. A number of individuals panicked and ran outdoors, the place Russian troopers fired at them. The girl was wounded, and the individuals within the basement advised him {that a} 14-year-old baby was shot within the head and killed. Dmytro mentioned that the girl died the following day, on March 8. He and a number of other native residents buried her outdoors the bomb shelter.
On March 4, Russian forces threatened to execute a person and his son in Zabuchchya, a village outdoors town of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv. A village resident mentioned that on March 4, Russian forces entered the village, the place he was sheltering with 10 different individuals, together with a household from Irpin, within the basement of his house. In a separate interview, his daughter corroborated his account. He mentioned that 13 troopers entered his home to go looking it:
The troopers requested about my son, 34, who’s within the territorial protection. He got here out to fulfill them. They requested who was in the home after which they searched the home and turned it the wrong way up.… Within the yard, they discovered my searching rifle and a bottle of gasoline, and so they went ballistic.
The commander who gave orders to others mentioned: “Take them [me and my son] to the tree outdoors and shoot them.” They took us outdoors. One of many troopers objected. They took us again inside and ordered my son to strip bare as a result of they mentioned they needed to search for nationalist tattoos. Different troopers additionally went to homes on our avenue, together with the home of a choose – she had gone and locked the home – and the native council deputy.
They broke the window within the choose’s home to get in. We noticed them taking baggage and baggage of stuff out of the choose’s home. After that, they left.… I took my household and everybody who was within the basement, and we fled in two vehicles. My spouse and my son and mom, 80, at the moment are staying at my daughter’s home in Khodosivka [southwest of Kyiv].
