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Amnesty International has said the Ukrainian army is endangering the life of civilians by basing themselves in residential areas, in a report rejected by Ukrainian government representatives as placing blame on it for Russia’s invasion.
The human rights group’s researchers found that Ukrainian forces were using some schools and hospitals as bases, firing near houses and sometimes living in residential flats. The report concluded that this meant in some instances Russian forces would respond to an attack or target residential areas – putting civilians at risk and damaging civilian infrastructure.
Ukraine’s deputy defence minister, Hanna Maliar, accused Amnesty of “distorting the real picture” and of failing to understand the situation on the ground. She said Ukrainian soldiers were deployed in cities and populated areas to defend them from Russian attack.
“There is no chronology of events [in the report]. The Russian Federation is committing the crime here. Ukraine is protecting its land. Moscow ignores all the rules of war. And unlike Ukraine, it doesn’t let in international organisations like Amnesty,” said Maliar.
Mykhailo Podolyak, Zelensky’s office advisor, stated he believed Amnesty International was spreading Russian disinformation by accusing Ukrainian Armed Forces of endangering civilians.
Mykhailo Podolyak said that the threat to peaceful Ukrainians was coming not from the Armed Forces, which protect them at the cost of their own lives, but the Russian military, who are responsible for many of the most brutal war crimes.
Right on time, right on the Russian narratives. Amnesty International published an essay on how Ukrainians should fight against Russia. Let’s dive into it.
Read also: Zelensky’s Office slams Amnesty International for accusing Ukraine’s Army of endangering civilians
