Russia forces may go to Ukraine’s Kyiv or Lviv cities: Official
Al JazeeraDec 23, 2022
The Facts
In a report issued on Friday, the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said the situation for both civilians and combatants as a result of the armed conflict in Ukraine "remains dire" — adding it has "verified numerous allegations of arbitrary deprivation of life, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance, torture and ill-treatment, and conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV)."
During the period from Aug. 1, 2022, to Jan. 31, 2023, OHCHR said it documented 1,605 civilian deaths and 4,382 civilian injuries. However, it warned that real numbers are likely to be considerably higher, given the figures only reflect what they were able to verify.
The Spin
Anti-Russia narrative
While the importance of the OHCHR's work cannot be overstated, it must take care not to place the same responsibility on Ukraine as Russia, which is ultimately responsible for starting this illegal war. Ukraine's actions constitute self-defense and shouldn't be likened to those of the aggressor.
Establishment-critical narrative
These reports are a step in the right direction to hold those responsible for alleged human rights abuses to account, however, they fail to recognize the West's role in these atrocities. By providing assistance to Ukraine, NATO has enabled mercenaries to partake in the atrocities outlined in the reports and is, thus, an accomplice to Kyiv's war crimes.
Narrative C
Both Russia and Ukraine have committed horrible atrocities throughout the conflict, demonstrating how war inflicts a tragically high cost on human life. Both sides must be held accountable for not respecting international humanitarian law, and work to bring this conflict to a close.