International
The World Organization Against Torture denounces possible crimes against humanity in Russia against Ukrainian civilians
Arbitrary arrests, torture, enforced disappearances, sexual violence and other abuses by Russian forces against civilians in Ukrainian territories can constitute crimes against humanity, denounces a report published by the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT).
The documentation of these practices between February and October 2022 in more than 20 detention centers by the OMCT together with the Ukrainian NGOs Media Initiative for Human Rights and the ZMINA Human Rights Center shows that “they are not isolated incidents” and are part of a “deliberate policy of torture.”
“These crimes reach the threshold of torture and persecution of a large political group, so they can constitute crimes against humanity,” the OMCT advisor for Europe and Central Asia, Maryia Kvitsinskaya, said in a statement.
The investigation presented on Thursday is based on interviews with victims and witnesses of 63 cases – 38 of torture and 25 of other ill-treatment – in the Ukrainian regions of Kiev, Chernigov, Zaporiyia, Donetsk, Kharkov and Kherson.
The OMCT denounces that after the control of some territories of these regions in 2022, the Russian army and special services began to persecute a large group of civilians who were loyal to Ukraine, opposed the occupation and had a negative attitude towards Russian troops, politicians or ideology.
The document speaks in this sense of “common signals” that were sought by the Russian military during the inspection procedures to identify Ukrainian citizens as “suspispious.”
They included, for example, the consumption of Ukrainian news or music, contact with relatives or acquaintances who served the country’s troops, donations in favor of the Army or photos with the national flag of Ukraine, the United States or the European Union, among others.
Those responsible for the report also warn that, as the invasion progressed, the Russian Army began to interpret these signs more broadly, targeting an increasing group of civilians.
This meant that, in addition to the people who were against the Russian occupation, many others were wrongly accused, representing 18 of the 38 cases documented in the report (48%).
In addition, among the tortured people interviewed there were also individuals from groups identified as vulnerable, including three women, five elderly people or a person with serious chronic diseases.
According to the report, all documented detention conditions violated the rules of international humanitarian law and human rights, with 28 of the 38 cases (73%) in which the conditions were “so deficient that they were equivalent to torture.”
Most of the victims were confined in cells in overcrowded conditions, in which there was hardly any room to sleep, often without natural light and located in very cold facilities in winter and very hot in summer.
In addition, in all the documented cases that are described as torture in this report, the victims were simultaneously subjected to multiple forms of physical and psychological abuse.
The use of sexual violence was also reported in seven of the 38 documented cases (18%), ranging from stabbing to the use of paralyzing pistols in the genital area to forced nudity and threats, castration or rape.
“Many interviewees described this experience as the worst of their lives, recounting the constant cries of horror of other detainees,” the head of the Documentation department of the Ukrainian NGO Human Rights Center ZMINA, Yelyzaveta Sokurenko, added in the statement.
The report demands in its conclusions section that the Russian authorities take immediate measures to put an end to these human rights violations.
They also ask for the intervention of Ukraine, the International Criminal Court and the international community to investigate the cases of torture and reported ill-treatment.
Finally, it is requested that those responsible for these abuses be held accountable, that support services be provided to victims and that their access to justice be guaranteed through international legal mechanisms.
International
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubiocould potentially form a Republican presidential ticket for the 2028 elections.
Speaking during a dinner with law enforcement officials as part of National Police Week, Trump publicly praised both officials and said they could make “an ideal team” for the next presidential race.
“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” Trump asked attendees before adding that the pair “sound like a good combination.”
The president highlighted his vice president’s performance in office, stating that their current partnership has been highly effective. “JD is perfect, that has been a perfect formula,” Trump told reporters later.
He further suggested that a Vance-Rubio pairing could represent a strong presidential and vice-presidential ticket, although he stopped short of offering any formal endorsement.
“I think it sounds like a presidential candidate and a vice-presidential candidate,” he said, while clarifying that his remarks should not be interpreted as an official backing of any future campaign.
So far, neither Vance nor Rubio has publicly confirmed any intention to run in the 2028 presidential election.
Rubio previously sought the Republican nomination in 2016 but withdrew after losing the primary race to Trump. Later, in a December 2025 interview with Vanity Fair, he said he would be among the first to support Vance if he decided to run for the White House.
Vance, meanwhile, has recently dismissed speculation of any political rivalry with Rubio amid growing discussion about potential future GOP leadership.
International
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
Russia accused Ukraine on Saturday of violating a Victory Day truce that was reportedly agreed with mediation from the United States, claiming that Ukrainian forces carried out attacks on Russian territory as well as on the annexed Crimean peninsula.
Despite the declared ceasefire, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian military positions using attack drones and artillery.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces made twelve attempts to advance toward Russian-held positions across several sectors of the front line.
It also alleged that Ukrainian strikes targeted civilian infrastructure in Crimea, several border regions, the Caucasus, and other areas including Moscow and Perm in the Ural region.
The Defense Ministry estimated around 8,900 violations of the ceasefire in total, including more than 7,000 drone attacks and over 1,000 strikes involving tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, and mortars since the truce came into effect at midnight.
Russia said its forces responded “symmetrically” to what it described as violations by Ukrainian troops.
Earlier, the Kremlin denied claims that Ukraine attempted to sabotage a military parade in Red Square marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
“No attempts were made. Everything went well,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told local media.
International
Trump Says U.S.-Iran Talks Progressing, Signals Possible Deal on Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Washington is holding “very good” talks with Iran and stated that there is a strong possibility of reaching an agreement to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ve had very good conversations over the last 44 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll reach an agreement,” Trump said during an event held in the Oval Office at the White House.
The president’s remarks came just hours after he announced a temporary suspension of the military operation aimed at escorting vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf due to Iran’s blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump explained that the pause in operations is intended to facilitate diplomatic negotiations between both sides and prevent further military escalation in the region.
“We’re in good shape, and right now things are going well. Now we have to achieve what we need to achieve. If we don’t, we’ll have to go much further,” the Republican president warned.
In a post published on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump reiterated that if Iran accepts Washington’s proposed conditions, military operations and the naval blockade affecting the Islamic republic would come to an end.
However, he also issued a new warning to the Iranian government, stating that the United States would respond with attacks “of greater intensity” if Tehran rejects the agreement promoted by the White House.
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Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
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