Russian forces were responsible for the “vast majority” of human rights violations in northern Ukraine during the early weeks of the war, including attacks on civilians that qualify as war crimes, the United Nations has found.
In a report published last Tuesday, the three members of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine said they had documented patterns of summary executions, unlawful confinement, torture, ill-treatment, rape, and other sexual violence committed in areas occupied by Russian armed forces.
The report includes several other references to reported rape cases, with victims said to be aged from four to 80 years old.
Ukrainian officials, rights groups, and the UN have previously said Moscow is using sexual assault as a war tactic.
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