Russians executed and tortured civilians in Kiev and Chernihiv: “They put a gun to my head, loaded it and I heard three shots” | Abroad

The human rights organization visited 17 villages and small towns in Kiev and Chernihiv oblasts in April and investigated 22 suspected summary executions, 9 other illegal killings, 6 possible enforced disappearances and 7 cases of torture. 21 civilians reported illegal detention in inhuman and degrading conditions.

“The numerous atrocities committed by the Russian forces occupying parts of northeastern Ukraine early in the war are horrific, illegal and brutal,” said Girgi Gogia, director of research for HRW’s Europe and Central Asia Division. “These mistreatments of civilians are clear war crimes that must be promptly and impartially investigated and prosecuted appropriately.”

HRW interviewed 65 people between April 10 and May 10, including those who were detained or survived torture, as well as families of victims and other witnesses. The organization also examined physical evidence at the locations where some of the suspected assaults took place and photos and videos shared by victims and witnesses.

Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Russian troops have been involved in numerous violations of the laws of war, which can amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. HRW previously documented 10 summary executions in the city of Butya and several other towns and villages that took place during the Russian occupation in March.

In 1 of the 22 newly documented killings, in the Kiev region, Anastasia Andriivna said she was at home on March 19 when soldiers arrested her 49-year-old son, Igor Savran, after finding his old military jacket. On March 31, the day after the Russian army’s withdrawal, she found her son’s body in a shed about 100 yards from her home, after recognizing his sneakers, which were outside the shed gate.

Civilians described being held for days or weeks by the Russian armed forces in filthy and suffocating conditions, such as in a school basement, a room in a window factory, or a well in a boiler room, with little or no food, insufficient water and no Toilets.

In the village of Jahidne, in Chernihiv Oblast, Russians held more than 350 residents, including at least 70 children, including 5 infants, in a schoolhouse basement for 28 days, barely getting some fresh air. There was little air or space to lie down and people had to use buckets as toilets.

“After a week, everyone was coughing violently,” said someone who was in the basement. “Almost all the children had a high fever and cramps from coughing and they vomited.” Another present said that some people got pressure sores from having to sit still. Ten elderly people died.

In Dymer, Kiev Oblast, Russian troops held several dozen people for several weeks in a 40-square-meter room in the small town’s window factory, with little food and water and buckets as toilets. The men were blindfolded and handcuffed with zip ties.

HRW also documented 7 cases of torture in which Russian soldiers beat prisoners, administered electric shocks or performed mock executions to force them to provide information. “They put a gun to my head, loaded it and I heard three shots,” said a man who was blindfolded. “I heard the shell casings fall to the ground and I thought I was there.”

In 9 cases, Russian troops shot civilians without clear military justification, the human rights organization noted. For example, in the afternoon of March 14, a Russian convoy passed through Mokhnatin, northwest of Chernihiv. The soldiers shot and killed two 17-year-old twin brothers and their 18-year-old friend.

All the witnesses questioned stated that they are civilians who did not participate in the hostilities, with the exception of two victims of torture. They were members of a local territorial defense unit.

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