Changes

Another OHCHR report documented an instance of rape and torture, writing: "A man with a mental disability was subject to cruel treatment, rape and other forms of sexual violence by 8 to 10 members of the 'Azov' and 'Donbas' (another Ukrainian battalion) battalions in August–September 2014. The victim's health subsequently deteriorated and he was hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital."<ref name="ohchr2" /> A report from January 2015 stated that a Donetsk Republic supporter was detained and tortured with electricity and [[waterboarding]], which resulted in his confessing to spying for pro-Russian militants.<ref name="ohchr2" />  In early February 2022 Russia accused Ukraine's military of committing "crimes against residents of the eastern [[Donbas]] region" in a report filed with the [[United Nations]].<ref>https://theweek.com/russia/1010313/russia-in-report-to-un-again-accuses-ukraine-of-genocide-amid-shelling-in-donbas</ref>   

Another OHCHR report documented an instance of rape and torture, writing: "A man with a mental disability was subject to cruel treatment, rape and other forms of sexual violence by 8 to 10 members of the 'Azov' and 'Donbas' (another Ukrainian battalion) battalions in August–September 2014. The victim's health subsequently deteriorated and he was hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital."<ref name="ohchr2" /> A report from January 2015 stated that a Donetsk Republic supporter was detained and tortured with electricity and [[waterboarding]], which resulted in his confessing to spying for pro-Russian militants.<ref name="ohchr2" />  In early February 2022 Russia accused Ukraine's military of committing "crimes against residents of the eastern [[Donbas]] region" in a report filed with the [[United Nations]].<ref>https://theweek.com/russia/1010313/russia-in-report-to-un-again-accuses-ukraine-of-genocide-amid-shelling-in-donbas</ref>   

The Russian news outlet ''Sputnik'' reported that the Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal investigation after the discovery of mass graves of civilians in Donbass.  "The remains of at least 295 civilians who died as a result of indiscriminate shelling by Ukrainian armed forces in 2014 were exhumed from them. It is already known that among the remains there are bodies of women of different ages," a statement from the committee said.<ref>https://sputniknews.com/20220216/russia-opens-criminal-case-after-discovery-of-mass-graves-of-civilians-in-donbass-1093089542.html</ref>  Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] called the events in Donbass a "[[genocide]],"<ref>https://www.marketwatch.com/story/russian-documents-level-genocide-allegation-against-ukraine-in-eastern-donbas-region-11645114453</ref> saying that the Ukrainian government continues to violate [[human rights]], including by legalizing the [[discrimination]] of the Russian-speaking population in the country.  

The Russian news outlet ''Sputnik'' reported that the Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal investigation after the discovery of mass graves of civilians in Donbass.  "The remains of at least 295 civilians who died as a result of indiscriminate shelling by Ukrainian armed forces in 2014 were exhumed from them. It is already known that among the remains there are bodies of women of different ages," a statement from the committee said.<ref>https://sputniknews.com/20220216/russia-opens-criminal-case-after-discovery-of-mass-graves-of-civilians-in-donbass-1093089542.html</ref>  Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] called the events in Donbass a "[[genocide]],"<ref>https://www.marketwatch.com/story/russian-documents-level-genocide-allegation-against-ukraine-in-eastern-donbas-region-11645114453</ref> saying that the Ukrainian government continues to violate [[human rights]], including by legalizing the [[discrimination]] of the Russian-speaking population in the country. ''Sputnik News'' reported on March 14, 2022 that the [[Lugansk People's Republic]] (LPR) discovered mass graves of people used as human shields by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) during their withdrawal, killing anyone who attempted to escape.<ref>https://sputniknews.com/20220313/lpr-militia-discovers-site-of-mass-killing-amid-counteroffensive-in-donbass-1093829566.html</ref>

In 2019, the Soufan Center, created by former FBI agent Ali Soufan, who was involved in a number of counter-terrorism cases, warned about the connection between the [[Azov Battalion]] and white nationalists. “In [[Ukraine]], the Azov Battalion has recruited foreign fighters motivated by white supremacy and neo-Nazi beliefs, including many from [[the West]], to join its ranks and receive training, indoctrination and instruction in irregular warfare,” the report outlined.<ref>https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/canadian-officials-who-met-with-ukrainian-unit-linked-to-neo-nazis-feared-exposure-by-news-media-documents</ref>

In 2019, the Soufan Center, created by former FBI agent Ali Soufan, who was involved in a number of counter-terrorism cases, warned about the connection between the [[Azov Battalion]] and white nationalists. “In [[Ukraine]], the Azov Battalion has recruited foreign fighters motivated by white supremacy and neo-Nazi beliefs, including many from [[the West]], to join its ranks and receive training, indoctrination and instruction in irregular warfare,” the report outlined.<ref>https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/canadian-officials-who-met-with-ukrainian-unit-linked-to-neo-nazis-feared-exposure-by-news-media-documents</ref>