Amnesty International accuses Ukraine of war crimes

Created: 04/08/2022 17:04

By: Tanja Koch

Also in the Kharkiv region, Amnesty International observed that Ukraine is stationing troops near residential areas.

© ARIS MESSINIS/AFP

According to Amnesty International, Ukraine's war tactics are putting civilians at risk.

However, that does not justify Russia's indiscriminate attacks. 

London/Kyiv - In the fight against the Russian war of aggression, Ukraine is said to have set up bases and weapons depots in populated areas, including near schools and clinics.

The human rights organization Amnesty International accuses the country of this, as a press release shows.

Such war tactics violate international humanitarian law and endanger civilians, writes Amnesty International.

The organization warned that martial law requires parties to a conflict to place military objects as far away as possible from civilian facilities.

Because when Russia attacks the bases, civilians and the infrastructure can be hit.

The Ukraine War in Pictures - Destruction, Resistance and Hope

View photo gallery

War in Ukraine: Even in a war of aggression, international humanitarian law applies to both sides

"The fact that they are in a defensive position does not absolve the Ukrainian military from complying with international humanitarian law," said Agnès Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International.

However, the violations in no way justified the many indiscriminate beatings by the Russian military with civilian casualties that Amnesty International has documented in recent months.

Amnesty International researchers spent several weeks between April and July investigating Russian attacks in the Kharkiv, Donbas and Mykolaiv regions.

The organization interviewed survivors, witnesses and relatives of the victims.

Evidence emerged that Ukrainian forces launched attacks from populated areas and entrenched themselves in civilian buildings in 19 towns and villages in the region.

The military is not known to have encouraged or assisted civilians to evacuate vulnerable areas.

The organization's Crisis Evidence Lab evaluated satellite imagery to confirm some of the incidents.

Ukraine accuses Amnesty International of involvement in Russian propaganda

Russian media loyal to the Kremlin discussed the report in detail, while Kyiv reacted with outrage.

Amnesty International is taking part in a Russian propaganda campaign aimed at stopping western arms deliveries, Russian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podoliak accused the organization.

"The only danger for Ukrainians is the Russian army of executioners and rapists coming to Ukraine and committing genocide," Podoliak wrote on Twitter.

Residents in cities close to the front are being evacuated again and again because the lives of civilians are a priority for Ukraine, he explained.

also read

'Corrupt and bankrupt': ex-general dismantles Putin's army – 'armed group of thugs'

Putin's "lie" exposed: how the Russian economy is really doing

Since the start of the Ukraine war at the end of February, repeated cases of the most serious crimes against civilians have become public, for which Ukraine – but also large parts of the international community – hold Russia responsible.

Hundreds of bodies were found in the Kiev suburb of Bucha.

A rocket attack hit fleeing Ukrainians in the eastern city of Kramatorsk.

(tk with dpa)