Dozens of Ukrainian officials, journalists and activists opposed to Moscow’s invasion have been arbitrarily detained by Russian forces or have disappeared, the UN denounced on Friday March 25, considering that some cases amount to “hostage taking“. In just over a month since the start of the offensive ordered by Vladimir Putin, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has gathered information on the arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance of 22 local Ukrainian officials , 13 of whom were later released.
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Perhaps the most famous case is that of the mayor of the city of Melitopol in southeastern Ukraine, Ivan Fedorov, who, according to Ukrainian authorities, was kidnapped by Russian occupying forces and detained for several days before being released. “This seems to be a modus operandi in areas occupied by the Russian Federation“, said Matilda Bogner, who is the representative of the High Commission in Ukraine, during a point by videoconference. “In some cases this appears to be a form of hostage taking“, she underlined, adding that the relatives were not informed of the place where these prisoners were taken. Matilda Bogner also reported the arrest of 15 journalists and activistswho strongly opposed the invasionin several regions of the country.
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Balance sheet still unclear
“It seems that those targeted are pro-Ukrainian activists or who are perceived as pro-Ukrainian by Russian forces“, she said. She pointed out that UN staff were trying to verify reports that five of the journalists and three of the activists had since been released, but “the fate of the other people remains unknown“. Seven journalists have already been killed since the invasion began on February 24, she said. They are among thousands of civilians, as well as thousands of soldiers on both sides, who are believed to have been killed. The High Commission confirmed the death of 1081 civilians, including 93 children according to its very precise methodology, but stressed that the true death toll is much higher.
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Thus, Matilda Bogner gave the example of the besieged city of Mariupol, constantly bombarded by Russian forces, which does not allow the number of dead to be formally confirmed. For Matilda Bognerthe scale of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure strongly suggeststhat international laws on the protection of civilians have been violated in the Ukrainian conflict, and to insist:These attacks cause immeasurable human suffering and may constitute war crimes.»
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