Ukraine: Hundreds of civilians were executed at the beginning of the war

Hundreds of civilians were summarily executed in the first months of Russian forces’ invasion of Ukraine, which the UN high commissioner for human rights said were “war crimes”.

The UN commission of inquiry has recorded 441 summary executions and killings in three regions of Ukraine between February 24 and the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on April 6, Volker Turk pointed out in a report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC).

During this period, the killings of 341 men, 72 women, 20 boys and eight girls were documented in 102 towns and villages in Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions, the report said.

“The actual figures may be higher and we are working to verify 198 additional murders in these areas,” said the High Commissioner.

“We have strong indications that these documented summary executions may constitute a war crime: premeditated murder,” he argued.

“In some cases, Russian soldiers executed civilians in makeshift detention facilities,” he said.

“While the victims raised their hands and posed no threat, others were killed on the spot after a security check at the entrance or inside their houses or yards,” the high commissioner continued.

88% of the total victims were men and boys, “who say they were targeted primarily because of their gender.”

In addition, Russian armored vehicles opened fire on buildings, killing civilians in their homes.

The High Commissioner continues to document violations of the rights of civilians in conflict zones outside the period examined in this report, the High Commissioner said.

UN investigators accused Moscow on September 23 of committing a “significant number” of war crimes in four Ukrainian regions in the first weeks following the Russian invasion.

On the other hand, contrary to what NGOs and Ukraine claim, they ruled that it is too early to talk about crimes against humanity.