UNGA Crisis Update 1 - "Terror and threats"

As the Russo-Ukrainian War continues to rage on, human rights violations have shocked the international community, as news from the war becomes all the more public. On the 8th of December, 9:43 AM, the oblast of Kherson, which has been recently freed from Russian control, witnessed a terrible tragedy. Approximately 100 of Ukrainian descent (24 women, 49 men and 27 children) have been found in a mass grave in the outskirts of the city. Most were killed with a gunshot to the head, but amongst a few men and women there are signs of torture and rape. Pictures of this mass grave have been uploaded online through social media in search of justice for the victims. Ukraine has asked for this case to be presented in front of the International Criminal Court of Justice, alongside the Bucha Massacre. The UN Secretary General called for an independent investigation.

In Russia, through a platform called “Dawn”, a group of Russians that appear masked in all videos, claim that “Bucha and Kherson are only the beginning” in what they call “the Great Cleansing”. Through this platform, its users create videos that contain foul language, threats towards Ukraine’s government officials and their families, whilst pledging their loyalty to Russia (The Motherland) and wavering their unlimited support for expansion. Ukraine has made multiple statements blaming Russia for the crime of genocide, whilst Russia denies that any attack on civilians has occurred, either in Bucha nor Kherson. Russian spokesmen talk about disinformation of the public, false accusations of human rights violations and a firmly calculated mechanism of Ukrainian propaganda, with fake pictures and videos. Most, in their speeches have used the phrase “Ukraine’s version of Goebbels’ propaganda”.

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