– The main motivation for publishing this report is that over time we have seen that an alarming pattern has developed, in which Ukrainian forces use war strategies that endanger the lives of civilians, Egenæs told NTB.

Report has received criticism, both from Ukraine and from Western social debaters and the media. He claims that Ukrainians use civilian infrastructure such as schools and hospitals for military purposes, causing them to be attacked and civilians affected.

Ukraine has protested the report and the head of Amnesty in Ukraine has resigned. English newspaper Sunday Time wrote in an editorial that nothing could save Amnesty’s reputation after this report.

“Absurd” and “conspiracy”

Lieutenant Colonel Palle Ydstebø at the staff school said Television 2 over the weekend that Ukrainian troops in many cases depended on establishing themselves near villages and towns to defend them against Russian attacks.

– Some points in the report don’t make sense, Ydsteb told TV 2.

Right-wing politician Peter Frølich, who heads the constitutional and control committee at Storting, said: Online newspaper that the whole thing is complete nonsense.

– The regime in Russia may be satisfied. They will continue as before, but can push the work of this report in front of them, said Frølich.

– This is a classic example of false balance. Russia is breaking every imaginable rule, and Ukraine is forced to protect itself. They must fight and die to protect their citizens, whether the fighting takes place in cities, villages, forests, hills or plains, said Frølich.

Reject criticism

Egenæs, who is Amnesty International Norway’s secretary general, rejected the criticism.

– Amnesty accepts criticism of our reports from various actors from time to time. “Our starting point is that we have a dedicated, experienced and independent team of investigators who document human rights abuses in conflict zones around the world,” he said.

– They have used the same high standards for investigation and documentation of facts as in wars and conflicts in other countries and regions, including in connection with our report on Russian war crimes in Ukraine, said Egenæs.

He said that Amnesty had presented documentation that in some cases Ukraine had placed military forces and weapons on civilian areas without doing anything or sufficient to evacuate civilians.

– This war strategy poses a danger to civilians in Ukraine and is illegal under international humanitarian law. In the ongoing war, Ukrainian forces have an obligation to do their best to protect civilian lives and civilian targets, said Egenæs.

– Same standard as everywhere else

– Are you afraid that Amnesty’s reputation will be affected in the long term by this criticism?

– This investigative work has gone through exactly the same quality assurance work as the report in which we criticized Russian troops for war crimes. It is also the same quality standard used in conflict zones elsewhere in the world, Egenæs said.

– During our existence, Amnesty has been criticized to varying degrees for our report. Beyond this, there are limits to what we can do about how we are perceived. What we must be faithful to is that our own investigative methods are appropriate. We believe that in this case, said the secretary general.

Some, including Ydsteb, have warned against the report being used by Russia in propaganda or as a justification for attacks on civilian targets.

– Thorough investigation

Egenæs said it was the developments they had seen over time that led them to publish the report now, in the midst of war.

– That is why we launched a thorough investigation which resulted in a report in which Amnesty documented that Ukraine’s war tactics sometimes violate international humanitarian law, said Egenæs.

He said it was Amnesty’s mandate as an independent and impartial human rights organization to document violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

– Contrary to how some interpret it, Amnesty does not condone attacks by Russian forces against civilians and civilian targets that have injured and killed thousands, he said.