The UN accuses Russia and Ukraine of summary executions
10:18 am | The United Nations Human Rights Commission in Ukraine is deeply concerned about the summary executions by Russian and Ukrainian forces. Matilda Bogner, head of the UN human rights mission in Ukraine, says the organization has documentation of such executions of prisoners on both sides of the battle.
“We are deeply concerned by the summary executions of up to 25 Russian prisoners of war and wounded. These were often executed soon after being overwhelmed in the battle line,” Bogner said. “We are aware of investigations by Ukrainian authorities into five cases involving 22 victims, but we are not aware of any prosecutions against the perpetrators.” He also expressed his dismay at the executions of 15 Ukrainian soldiers, eleven of whom were carried out by the Wagner mercenary group.
The human rights commissioner of the Ukrainian parliament said in a response that the allegations against Ukrainian troops surprised him and he wanted to see the facts on which the UN commission relies. Ukraine’s foreign ministry said in a statement that it thanked the UN monitors for their work, but stressed that Ukraine expects the UN “to avoid any steps that could be seen as victim equating and the aggressor”.
The Russians want to criminalize the ICC in their own country
08:29 | Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin of the Russian Parliament has presented a proposal to ban all activities of the International Criminal Court in Russia. Volodin presented the proposal in response to the arrest warrant issued by the ICC against Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of war crimes.
Volodin is also a close friend of Putin and has said that Russian legislation should be changed to ban any ICC activity in Russia and to punish anyone who has provided assistance and support to the ICC.
In his argument, Volodin cited the United States, which itself has legislation stating that American citizens cannot be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court. “We want it too,” says Volodin.
The Russian capture of Bachmut is at a standstill
07:40 | According to the British MoD, the Russian attack on the hard-fought Bachmut has largely come to a standstill. The British report it in their latest intelligence update.
The main reason would be that Russian troops have largely been reduced. In addition, the tension with the Wagner Group mercenary army also contributes to the losses. Even Ukraine itself suffered heavy losses during its defense actions.
The battle for Bachmut is considered the longest and bloodiest battle of the Ukrainian war. Due to the ongoing nature of the battle, the British MoD believes Russia has turned its attention to other locations, such as Avdiivka, south of Bachmut, or the Kremlina-Svatove sector to the north. “The Russians just want to strengthen their front line there.”
United States and Canada in the lead
07:22 | US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have united against authoritarian regimes. This is the result of Biden’s visit to the Canadian capital, the day after the Moscow summit between the leaders of China and Russia.
According to Reuters, the images that have come out of Biden and Trudeau – brotherly side by side – are a clear reaction to the setting in Moscow a few days ago. There, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin made it clear that the friendship between the two countries is very close and that ties will only strengthen.