The human rights organization Amnesty apologizes in part for its controversial criticism of Ukraine’s war tactics. “Amnesty International deeply regrets the anger and outrage our press release on the combat tactics used by the Ukrainian military has caused,” it said in an email sent to Reuters on Sunday.
“Amnesty International’s priority in this and any other conflict is to ensure the protection of civilians. Indeed, this was our sole aim when we published this latest research. We fully stand by our findings but regret the suffering caused.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi sharply criticized the report published on Thursday. Amnesty is trying to shift responsibility from the Russian attackers to their victims. Amnesty Ukraine chief Oxana Pokalchuk resigned over the report.
He was a propaganda gift for Moscow, she said. Government officials also stressed that they were attempting to evacuate civilians from the frontline areas. Russia, in turn, denies targeting civilians.
In its email on Sunday, Amnesty said that in 19 towns and villages visited, Ukrainian forces were found near civilians. As a result, they were exposed to the risk of Russian fire.
“This does not mean that Amnesty International holds Ukrainian forces responsible for the violations committed by Russian forces, nor that the Ukrainian military is not taking proper precautions elsewhere in the country,” it said.
“We have to be very clear: nothing we have documented in the Ukrainian armed forces in any way justifies Russian incursions.”
