‘Nowhere is safe’: UN experts detail Ukraine war’s toll and Russia’s reach beyond its borders

United Nations-appointed investigators described worsening conditions for civilians in Ukraine as winter approaches, citing repeated Russian strikes on energy infrastructure that have left millions without reliable power or heating. A 74-year-old Kyiv resident recounted being trapped in her 18th-floor apartment during power cuts, unable to access medicine or warmth. Commission chair Erik Møse warned that the coming winter could bring even greater hardship for civilians already enduring severe shortages.

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine also highlighted Russia’s expansion of patriotic education in occupied territories, including mandatory weapons training from age 14 and aggressive recruitment of foreign nationals. Many recruits, lured by false promises of civilian jobs, were later sent to the front lines, with some killed shortly after arrival and others reported missing or captured. Families of missing recruits said recruiting agents abruptly stopped responding to inquiries.

Separately, Special Rapporteur Mariana Katzarova presented evidence of a systematic Russian campaign to intimidate critics abroad, including journalists and activists. Her report documents nearly 400 cases of transnational repression since 2022, with incidents rising eight-fold compared to the previous eight years. Katzarova noted that Russia files more INTERPOL red notices than any other country, with many found to violate INTERPOL’s own rules.

Katzarova also detailed cases of individuals facing extradition to Russia, including a Chechen torture survivor detained in Kazakhstan for 18 months under a Russian request. The survivor, who attempted suicide twice, remains at risk of torture or death if returned. Katzarova urged the adoption of a binding UN convention to require host states to screen Russian extradition requests and protect vulnerable individuals.