Russia destroyed 154 Ukrainian businesses, over 1,500 educational institutions in 2 months – HR ombudsperson

During the two months of full-scale war, the Russian occupation forces destroyed 154 factories and enterprises in Ukraine, as well as 1,508 educational institutions (including 408 kindergartens), 102 of which cannot be rebuilt, said the Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights Lyudmyla Denisova.

The invaders also destroyed 347 health facilities (36 of which cannot be rebuilt), 109 cultural facilities, 11 civilian airports, two ports and port infrastructure.

According to the ombudsperson, Russian troops are deliberately targetting Ukrainian enterprises and institutions, depriving civilians of the right to work. In particular, on April 24, nine Russian missiles hit the infrastructure of the strategic city of Kremenchuk in the central Ukrainian Poltava Oblast. On April 25, the occupiers fired missiles at five railway stations in Ukraine.

"By destroying civilian infrastructure, the aggressor violates the right to life and health of workers, ruins jobs, depriving workers and their families of livelihoods," Denisova said.

She noted that Russia fails to comply with the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 on the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I) and 8 June 1977 (AP I).

"According to Article 51 of AP, the civilian population as such, as well as individual civilians, should not be attacked. Acts of violence or threats of violence aimed at terrorizing the civilian population are prohibited,"  the commissioner stated.

She adds that killings of civilians, shelling of civilian cities and civilian objects by the Russian army are war crimes and crimes against humanity under Articles 7 and 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, as well as gross violations of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and additional protocols to them.

"I appeal to the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine to take into account these facts of war crimes and human rights violations in Ukraine," Denisova said.