Russia has failed to protect civilians and is responsible for atrocities in Ukraine, the UN's human rights chief says. Meanwhile, Ukraine says it faces a tricky situation in the Kharkiv region.
United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk has decried an "extensive failure" by Russia to take adequate measures to protect civilians in its war in Ukraine.
He also said there were indications that Russian forces had committed war crimes.
Türk said there were indications of "gross violations of international human rights law, serious violations of international humanitarian law, and war crimes, primarily by the forces of the Russian Federation."
Speaking at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Turk said these offenses included 142 cases of summary execution of civilians since Russia launched the war.
He added that there had also been enforced disappearances, as well as torture and ill-treatment of detainees, including through sexual violence.
"There has been extensive failure by the Russian Federation to take adequate measures to protect civilians and protect civilian objects against the effects of their attacks," Türk said.
He urged both countries, but particularly Russia, to adhere to international human rights and humanitarian law.
"They must cease the use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas, and scrupulously map the location of mines," he said.
"The situation in Ukraine seems to have been added to a litany of continuous suffering, and the world's attention seems jaded by the multiple crises that we face."
Source: Dw
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