Many Russians are warm hearted and cultured
Sure. One of my best online pals, long time ago, was a Russian. Certain Yuri from Klin (Moskovskaya oblast'); we lost touch, as it happens with online friendships, but he was a really sound fellow. I hope he's not a T62 reservist or anything :-/
Why can't Russia's 'elites' abandon those idiotic delusions of grandeur and lead their country on a normal path of peace and well-being? Greeks once had an empire, so did Turks, Persians, Mongols or Austrians - but they all accepted that it's history now. Why can't Russia do the same? :-/
What one woman said to another woman is not evidence.
That woman is Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights - sounds like a credible office to me. Also, there is a significant number of those reports and even if a fraction of them is true, then it's truly horrible. And some cases are difficult to disregard as false, when Russian soldiers post videos of their "feats" online or brag about raping in phone conversations with their wives.
If these numerous reports all turned out to be false/propaganda, I would be absolutely delighted, but what are the chances? There's just too many of them.