All That Breathes,’ ‘Mariupolis 2’ Win Cannes Documentary Awards

In the war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia is committing grave violations of international law. In addition to the international crime of aggression committed by the Russian regime in invading Ukraine, there are numerous reports of kidnapping, torture and killing of Ukrainian civilians, as well as widespread sexual and gender-based violence. ECCHR is working with survivors and partners from Ukraine on selected cases to hold those responsible for these crimes accountable.
The case of Mantas and the fate of Mariupol are emblematic of Russian war crimes and attacks on the civilian population: the siege and bombardment of civilian infrastructure in Mariupol, which lasted for months, led to immense destruction and thousands of civilian victims. There were hardly any ways to escape – the evacuation of civilians from the besieged city was practically impossible for an extended period of time. Thus, between February and April 2022, Mariupol was presumably the deadliest place in all of Ukraine.