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Families of those killed in Russia's Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant blast file complaint with UN committee (Photo: REUTERS/Ivan Antypenko)
The families of nine people killed after Russian forces destroyed the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant on June 6, 2023, have filed a complaint with the UN Human Rights Committee, Babel reported on June 5.
The submission was prepared on behalf of the families by human rights organizations Legal Action Worldwide and Truth Hounds.
The organizations said in a press release that Russia violated the right to life not only of the nine named victims, but also of everyone who died as a result of the disaster.
“No one warned them, and when the water came, no one came to save them,” said Viktoria, who lost three family members in the flooding and is now seeking justice and reparations from Russia together with other victims.
According to Ukrainian and Russian figures, at least 92 people were killed after the dam was destroyed. However, several media outlets have reported that the number of victims in occupied Oleshky alone may be in the hundreds.
The final death toll still cannot be established because Russia continues to occupy part of the affected territories.
Human rights defenders said a positive decision by the UN committee in favor of the victims’ families could set a historic precedent and expand the application of international law to protect civilians during armed conflicts.
Truth Hounds said in a report that Russian forces not only failed to ensure proper evacuation of civilians on the occupied left bank of Kherson Oblast, but also obstructed rescue efforts.
Such actions by the occupying forces may amount to serious violations of international humanitarian law, human rights defenders said.
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