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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
AS IT IS 2015-06-03 Growing Evidence of Russian Military Involvement in Ukraine 越来越多的证据表明俄罗斯军方卷入了乌克兰战争
United Nations investigators1 say there is growing evidence of Russian military involvement in the war in Ukraine. More than a year has passed since the start of fighting between the Ukrainian armed forces and pro-Russian rebels. This week, the U.N. human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine released its 10th report on the war. The report examines the situation during a three-month period, from February 16 to May 15.
Russia denies its soldiers are fighting in eastern Ukraine. Russian officials say those fighting with pro-Russian rebels are volunteers.
Ukraine’s armed forces captured two Russians last month. Since then, the Russian government has refused to say they belong to the regular Russian army. But investigators who privately2 questioned the Russian soldiers last month reached a different finding.
Ivan Simonovic is the U.N.’s Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights.
“There is increasing evidence that active servicemen from Russian Federation3 may be operating in Ukraine. In these cases, we have to be very cautious because the same persons who were visited are subject to national Ukrainian criminal investigation4 and they are charged with terrorism and, of course, those people are between a rock and hard place because also Russian Federation is closely watching what they are saying or not saying.”
Mr. Simonovic says there also are reports of the Russian Federation providing fighters and modern, heavy weaponry to the rebels.
The U.N. report says more than 6,400 people were killed and nearly 16,000 wounded in eastern Ukraine from the middle of May 2014 through May 30 of this year. The report says this is a conservative estimate and the actual numbers are likely to be higher. It also says 1.2 million people are displaced internally. They were forced to flee their homes along the Russian border with Ukraine because of the fighting. U.N. officials say hundreds of thousands of others have sought refuge in Russia and other countries.
The report notes a decrease in what observers call indiscriminate shelling since the acceptance of the Minsk peace agreements on February 12. But it adds the shelling has not stopped, and civilians5 continue to live in fear.
The report also documents serious human rights abuses. Mr. Simonovic says there are claims both sides may be guilty of war crimes. He adds that documentation of such crimes is greater in rebel-controlled areas.
“By armed groups, there is an allegation of killings6, torture, ill-treatment, forced labor7, looting, ransom8, extortion of money. For both sides, we have some allegations -- and in case of armed groups, some documentation -- of summary executions. For the governmental side, we have allegations that we still investigate and work on.”
The report says human rights violations9 have continued in the Crimean peninsula since Russia claimed the area on March 4, 2014. It notes arrests, torture, and threats are continuing against political opponents, mainly members of the Crimean Tatar community.
Words in This Story
monitor – v. to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time
mission – n. a group with a special job or project
regular – adj. normal or traditional
cautious – adj. careful
indiscriminate – adj. affecting many people or things in a careless way
allegation - n. a claim
1 investigators | |
n.调查者,审查者( investigator的名词复数 ) | |
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2 privately | |
adv.以私人的身份,悄悄地,私下地 | |
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3 federation | |
n.同盟,联邦,联合,联盟,联合会 | |
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4 investigation | |
n.调查,调查研究 | |
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5 civilians | |
平民,百姓( civilian的名词复数 ); 老百姓 | |
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6 killings | |
谋杀( killing的名词复数 ); 突然发大财,暴发 | |
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7 labor | |
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦 | |
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8 ransom | |
n.赎金,赎身;v.赎回,解救 | |
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9 violations | |
违反( violation的名词复数 ); 冒犯; 违反(行为、事例); 强奸 | |
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