As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine rages on into its 942nd day, the situation remains dire with ongoing fighting, political tensions, and human rights abuses. Russian attacks on Ukraine’s southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia have resulted in casualties, while Ukrainian shelling near the border has also caused deaths and injuries. Both sides have reported civilian casualties, with conflicting narratives on who is responsible.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is in the US seeking support and approval for using Western-supplied weapons on Russian military targets. The United Nations Human Rights Council has accused Russian prisons of withholding medical care from Ukrainian prisoners and engaging in torture practices.
The UN special rapporteur on the rights situation in Russia has raised concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in the country, including arbitrary arrests and worsening prison conditions. Additionally, there is evidence that Russian convicts recruited to fight in Ukraine have committed serious crimes upon their return.
Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine are engaged in a legal battle at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague over access to coastal waters near the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. The European Union is considering allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles to strike deep inside Russian territory, further escalating tensions.
The conflict shows no signs of abating, with both sides continuing to suffer devastating consequences. International pressure and diplomatic efforts are ongoing to try and find a resolution to the conflict and address the human rights abuses occurring on both sides.
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