The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Friday said that there is growing evidence of war crimes in Ukraine, with accusations leveled against both sides in the conflict.

Michelle Bachelet said that since the beginning of the war nearly eight weeks ago, “International humanitarian law has not merely been ignored but seemingly tossed aside.” The Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) has recorded and verified 5,381 civilian casualties, with 2,435 killed and 2,946 injured. “We know the actual numbers are going to be much higher as the horrors inflicted in areas of intense fighting, such as Mariupol, come to light,” Bachelet said.

She also noted new evidence regarding the scale of summary executions of civilians by Russian troops is emerging, with over 300 allegations in regions controlled by the Russians since late February and early March. Such summary executions are gross violations of international human rights law and amount to war crimes. There have also been at least 114 attacks on medical establishments, leading to an estimated 3,000 civilian deaths due to a lack of health care.

HRMMU has also received 75 allegations of sexual violence by Russian soldiers against Ukrainian civilians from across the country, with the majority reported from the Kyiv region. The mission also has reports of numerous arbitrary detentions of civilians, including local officials, journalists, activists, and human rights defenders. Some were reportedly tortured, left without food or water, or held in overcrowded facilities.

There are also allegations that both Russian and Ukrainian armed forces have engaged in indiscriminate attacks, namely the shelling and bombing of populated areas, leading to many civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. Such attacks are “emblematic of the failure to adhere to the principle of distinction, the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks and the principle of precaution enshrined in international humanitarian law.”

The High Commissioner called on both sides to investigate all allegations, as it is their obligation under international law. She also called upon those in command to hold their soldiers accountable and instruct them in the laws of war. She said: “This means distinguishing between civilian and military objects. It means not targeting or deliberately killing civilians. It means not committing sexual violence. People, including prisoners of war, must not be tortured. Civilians, prisoners and others hors de combat must be treated humanely.”