The UN mission reported the execution of 32 captured Ukrainians by the Russian military

During the period from December 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine received reports of the extrajudicial execution of 32 Ukrainian military personnel by Russian occupation forces. This is stated in the 38th report of the UN mission, published on Monday, March 26.

In total, during the reporting period, mission staff interviewed 60 Ukrainian military personnel who had recently been released from Russian captivity, having spent there from several weeks to almost two years. Their stories confirmed previously documented examples of large-scale torture, inhuman or degrading treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russian captivity, the report’s authors emphasize.

In total, the mission received reports of 12 different cases of extrajudicial execution of at least 32 Ukrainian prisoners of war. The mission independently confirmed three such cases, the report said.

Human rights violations on the Ukrainian side

The UN mission still has regular access to Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine, the report says. Human rights activists noted “Ukraine’s efforts” to comply with international standards for the treatment of prisoners of war.

Despite this, the mission also received “credible reports” of torture and ill-treatment of Russian prisoners of war. In addition, during the reporting period, Ukrainian authorities opened 767 criminal proceedings and issued 241 verdicts (0.4% of them acquittals) in cases related to alleged collaboration with the occupation authorities. “In some cases, the individuals involved were accused of actions for which they should not have been prosecuted or convicted,” the report’s authors emphasize.

One man detained for “justifying the Russian Federation’s armed attack on Ukraine” on social networks has died in custody. Before his death, he complained that prison authorities had not adequately responded to his deteriorating health, the UN report said. We are probably talking about blogger Gonzalo Lira, who had American and Chilean citizenship. The Ukrainian Security Service detained 55-year-old Lira in Kharkov in May 2023. He was accused of “justifying Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.” Lira died in jail in January 2024. According to his family, he complained to no avail about serious health problems.