Originally written : October 9, 2022
By Abigail Pereira
The Russia-Ukraine war has had global effects, such as increased prices due to shortages of food and goods, a refugee crisis, and civilian harm due to lack of food, water, and other essentials. Russia continues to destroy hospitals, infrastructures, private property, and more with explosive weaponry as they pillage towns and send the stolen items back to Russia. Millions have been displaced or deported back to Russia. Many are being killed simply for being Ukrainian. Additionally, gender-based and sexual attacks, such as rape and forced public stripping, by Russian soldiers in Russian-military and Government controlled areas have been documented. Children have been exploited and harmed. Hostilities on minority groups and vulnerable people, such as those with disabilities and the elderly, have been reported. Randomized detention, civilian torture, and enforced disappearances are prevalent as well. Conditions in prisons and detention centers are harsh and life-threatening. Since February 24, 2022, anti-war demonstrations have spread throughout Russia in protest of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Conscription offices have been burnt down, Putin has called for the mobilization of 300,000 more people to serve in the war. Recently, anti-war protesters who are arrested have been given summons to enlist in the military. Thousands of Russians have fled the country to avoid punishment for opposing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Police brutality during crackdowns are a major concern of human rights organizations. Video footage has shown protesters being tortured under captivity. Mass arrests of thousands per day occur, so preventive measures by protesters have been taken through individual protesting instead of protesting as a group. Countries have sent provisions to feed and help Ukrainian citizens and efforts to move these civilians out of harm’s way are in effect. However, it has proved difficult to do so effectively as Ukrainians often choose to stay in their homes, despite the danger. Furthermore, attacks on those wishing to leave deter civilians from leaving their neighborhoods, which end up getting destroyed by missiles and during shelling attacks. By doing this, Russia hopes to leave immense devastation and wear down Ukraine’s resources. Sources “New Report by UN Human Rights Shows the Shocking Toll of the War in Ukraine [En/Ru/UK] - Ukraine.” ReliefWeb, June 29, 2022. https://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/new-report-un-human-rights-shows-shocking-toll-war-ukraine-enruuk. “War Crimes Have Been Committed in Ukraine Conflict, Top UN Human Rights Inquiry Reveals | | 1UN News.” United Nations. United Nations, September 23, 2022. https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/09/1127691. Zemlianichenko, Alexander. Police Detain a Demonstrator during a Protest against Mobilisation in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, September 21, 2022. September 22, 2022. Anti-War Protesters in Russia Reportedly Handed Draft Papers. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/22/over-1300-people-arrested-in-russia-amid-mobilisation-protests.
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