Summary:
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Accumulating casualties, at least eight civilians, including one girl, were killed, and about 45 others, including seven children, were injured in additional missile strikes on Wednesday in the city and district of Kyiv, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU). A rocket attack on a hospital in Vilniansk, in the Zaporizhzhia region, resulted in the death of a two-day-old baby boy and the injuries of two doctors.
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HRMMU has confirmed at least 77 civilian fatalities and 272 civilian injuries since Russia started its continued onslaught of missile strikes and loitering munition attacks across the nation on October 10. Both sides have made allegations. Monitoring Mission has been researching videos and other materials related to alleged summary executions and recording civilian casualties.
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Tell your soldiers to be kind to those who surrender and those they hold in custody.
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He highlighted the horrific effects of Russian missile attacks and claims of prisoners of war being executed in cold blood as evidence of the “intolerable human cost of this, and any other, armed conflict.
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“The High Commissioner emphasized that these incidents are a sharp reminder of the need for international law and full compliance to avert a plunge into complete inhumanity and negate the fundamental concept of our human rights.
These strikes, he claimed, “are plunging millions into terrible misery and horrible circumstances of existence.”
According to international humanitarian law, which demands a specific and direct military benefit for each object struck, this poses significant issues.
Accumulating casualties
At least eight civilians, including one girl, were killed, and about 45 others, including seven children, were injured in additional missile strikes on Wednesday in the city and district of Kyiv, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU).
A rocket attack on a hospital in Vilniansk, in the Zaporizhzhia region, resulted in the death of a two-day-old baby boy and the injuries of two doctors.
HRMMU has confirmed at least 77 civilian fatalities and 272 civilian injuries since Russia started its continued onslaught of missile strikes and loitering munition attacks across the nation on October 10.
Both sides have made allegations
The Monitoring Mission has been researching videos and other materials related to alleged summary executions and recording civilian casualties.
Since Russia’s armed assault on Ukraine began in February, Mr Türk claimed both sides had been accused of serial murders of combatants and prisoners of war.
He emphasized that “persons hors de combat, including soldiers who have surrendered, are protected under international humanitarian law and that the summary execution of such persons constitutes a war crime.”
Need for “forensic investigations”
Videos from the village of Makiivka, which appear to show the apparent surrender of Russian forces or armed groups with Russian connections, a man opening fire on Ukrainian soldiers, and then the dead bodies of about 12 Russian soldiers, are just a few of the videos that have surfaced over the past two weeks on social media.
“Our Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has completed a preliminary investigation that strongly suggests the content of these troubling recordings is real. According to the top UN official, “the facts of the entire series of events must be thoroughly probed, and those found responsible must be suitably held accountable.”
“The analysis the Mission has conducted to date highlights the need for independent and comprehensive forensic investigations to assist in identifying precisely what occurred,” the mission stated.
In the meantime, the Ukrainian authorities have launched a criminal inquiry into the incidents.
Mr. Türk stated that any charges of summary executions must be thoroughly looked into in a way that is independent, impartial, thorough, transparent, quick, and effective.
Price of war
The UN Human Rights Chief urged the parties to “provide unambiguous instructions” prohibiting retaliation and reprisals against any POWs and to ensure that these directives are strictly followed.
“This is required by the Geneva Conventions, which control armed warfare. Tell your soldiers to be kind to those who surrender and those they hold in custody.
He highlighted the horrific effects of Russian missile attacks and claims of prisoners of war being executed in cold blood as evidence of the “intolerable human cost of this, and any other, armed conflict.”
The High Commissioner emphasized that these incidents are a sharp reminder of the need for international law and full compliance to avert a plunge into complete inhumanity and negate the fundamental concept of our human rights.
Analysis by: Advocacy Unified Network
