Mark Temnycky on Rights Violations in Ukraine
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/03/05
Mark Temnycky is a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center and an accredited freelance journalist specializing in Eurasian affairs, European energy security, and Ukrainian football. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Forbes, The Hill, Newsweek, Euronews, EUobserver, Defense News, the Kyiv Post, and The Diplomat, among others. He has also contributed to think tanks like the Atlantic Council, Wilson Center, and Center for European Policy Analysis. His reporting has been cited by the European Parliament, NATO, the Helsinki Commission, the United Nations University, and Transparency International. Temnycky has been interviewed by BBC, France 24, NBC, Al Jazeera English, and FIFA, and has appeared on podcasts for The Telegraph, Chatham House, and Razom for Ukraine. He has guest lectured at West Point, Columbia University, NYU, and Boston University. Recognized by the International Sports Press Association and the Ukrainian World Congress, he holds master’s degrees in Public Administration and International Relations from Syracuse University and a history degree from Le Moyne College. Throughout the Russian invasion of Ukraine, organizations such as the UN, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International have documented severe human rights violations, including torture, rape, and executions. The U.S., NATO, and allied nations have condemned these atrocities, imposing sanctions and removing Russia from international organizations. The invasion has reshaped Europe’s energy landscape, accelerating diversification efforts and reducing reliance on Russian gas. Ukrainian civil society and NGOs collaborate with international bodies to document war crimes. The Biden administration has supported investigations, leading to ICC charges against Putin. The conflict highlights the necessity of timely military aid and strategic decision-making in warfare.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What have been the most egregious documented human rights violations committed in Ukraine?
Mark Temnycky: Throughout the Russian invasion of Ukraine, organizations such as the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and others have conducted research and written reports about human rights violations during the war. In a report issued by the U.S. Department of State, “significant human rights abuses committed by Russia’s forces in areas that were under Russian control involved severe and wide-ranging cases and included credible reports.” Some of the most egregious document human rights violations committed by the Russians are torturing, mutilating, raping, and executing Ukrainian men, women, and children. Many Ukrainian bodies were then left on the streets or dumped into unmarked graves. These Russian atrocities were discovered in the cities of Bucha and Izyum, and were reported elsewhere across the country.
Jacobsen: How have the U.S. and NATO responded to the war crimes?
Temnycky: The United States, NATO, EU, Canada, Japan, Australia, and many other countries and collectives have condemned war crimes committed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They have sought to punish Russia for committing these atrocities. For example, the United Nations General Assembly voted to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council in April 2022. Russia was also removed from the Parliamentary Assembly for the Council of Europe, as well as several other international organizations. The removal from various political, cultural, business, and sports organizations has seen Russia lose hundreds of billions of dollars. In addition, the international community has imposed stiff sanctions on the Russian gas industry, Russian businesses, and Russian officials.
Jacobsen: How has Russia’s invasion affected Europe’s energy landscape?
Temnycky: The Russian invasion of Ukraine has forced the European continent to reevaluate its energy market and prioritize energy security. There were also swift actions taken by Europe to distance itself from Russia. For example, when the war began, the operation of Nord Stream 2 was halted (the pipeline was later damaged). The EU and UK banned seaborne imports of crude oil in December 2022, and a ban on Russian imports of diesel fuel and other products made from crude oil in Russian refineries occurred in February 2023. Furthermore, Europe has opted to diversify its energy market by purchasing larger quantities of liquid natural gas from countries such as the United States and Qatar. In addition, several European countries are pursuing clean energy and alternative energy options to further strengthen energy independence. Finally, Ukraine let its gas deal with Russia expire on January 1, 2025, meaning several countries would no longer receive Russian gas via Ukraine. This has forced Europe to further accelerate its plans for energy diversification.
Jacobsen: How are Ukrainian civil society and local NGOs documenting human rights violations?
Temnycky: The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner is one of the organizations that has worked with Ukrainian civil society and local NGOs to document grave human rights violations. Furthermore, the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation has stated that members of Ukrainian civil society and NGOs have spoken with Ukrainians who have eyewitness accounts of human rights violations. They will speak with individuals who saw the Russians conduct atrocities, they will travel to areas where violations occurred so that they can collect information and document the events that unfolded in the area, and they will write summaries or reports about the events that unfolded. These accounts and the information are then shared with news outlets, international organizations, and governments so that they can be aware of the atrocities that are committed.
Jacobsen: How would you assess the previous (Biden) Administration’s approach to Ukrainian human rights concerns?
Temnycky: Throughout Russia’s invasion, President Biden called on the United Nations (UN) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate human rights violations committed by the Russians. The Biden administration also worked with officials from the UN, ICC, and the Ukrainian government to collect information and document human rights violations during the war. The evidence that was collected then led to the ICC issuing an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Outside of the White House, the U.S. Department of State constantly identified and publicly condemned Russian war crimes committed in Ukraine. In addition, throughout the war, the United States Congress introduced resolutions which have condemned and opposed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Jacobsen: What legal precedents exist for prosecuting Russian officials or military personnel for human rights violations?
Temnycky: The International Criminal Court (ICC) is examining and reading documentation and cases presented by Ukraine on human rights violations committed by the Russian Federation. The ICC has already issued an arrest warrant for President Putin. The international legal body is also exploring options on how to try and prosecute Russian officials and Russian military personnel for their involvement and participation in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Jacobsen: Based on experience lecturing at military academies, what key lessons should future leaders learn from this conflict?
Temnycky: Defense aid needed to be provided to Ukraine faster. For several years, numerous Western governments put self-imposed restrictions on Western aid used by the Ukrainians. They did not allow the Ukrainians to use Western weapons to strike Russian military targets within the Russian Federation. In addition, various forms of high-tech equipment were delayed. Imposing these restrictions, and with the delays in providing defense aid needed to defend Ukrainians from Russian attacks, allowed the Russians to regroup and re-strategize in the occupied regions. Ukraine also did not have the proper equipment to fully protect its citizens against the Russian incursion, and this led to additional deaths.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Mark.
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