U.S. official: Russian forces have forcibly deported as many as 1.6 million Ukrainians

U.S. official: Russian forces have forcibly deported as many as 1.6 million Ukrainians
September 23, 2022, 2:29 pm

Russian invasion: This woman was caught under heavy fire and was seriously injured. Ukrainian defenders applied a tourniquet to stem the blood flow and delivered her to the nearest medical base - Euromaidan Press

The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Human Rights Council said, Russian forces have forcibly deported between 900,000 and 1.6 million Ukrainians into Russia.

"We urge the commissioners to continue to examine the growing evidence of Russia's filtration operations, forced deportations and disappearances," U.S. Ambassador Michele Taylor told the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, referring to a commission of inquiry into Ukraine.

"Numerous sources indicate that Russian authorities have interrogated, detained and forcible deported between 900,000 and 1.6 million Ukrainian citizens," she said.

Ukraine and Western governments have accused Russian forces of forcibly moving Ukrainian nationals to “filtration camps” and then transporting them to Russia. Moscow has rejected the accusations, calling them “fantasy.”

UK foreign secretary calls on countries to reject pro-Russia referenda in Ukraine

Moscow, which invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, has denied intentionally targeting civilians.

The forced deportation of civilians from one country to another is considered by the U.N. and the International Committee of the Red Cross to be a war crime.

levantnews-agencies

Survey: Faith in Hong Kong press freedom sinks to record low Statistics: Italy faces continued population decline