UN investigators report that Russia committed war crimes and crimes against humanity by targeting civilians and energy infrastructure in Ukraine. Human rights experts revealed on Monday that Russian authorities violated international law through systematic attacks on non-combatants and vital utility systems during the ongoing conflict.
Targeting Energy Infrastructure and Civilians
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine noted in its latest report that power plant strikes intensified again across the country, where temperatures plunged to -21°C last winter. The three-person panel, consisting of Erik Møse, Pablo de Greiff, and Vrinda Grover, relied on testimonies from 255 individuals experiencing dire conditions across several oblasts, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson. Russian commanders ordering these assaults knew the heating facilities were vital to the civilian population, particularly during winter. Furthermore, ongoing Russian strikes caused severe healthcare disruptions, destroying over $1.5 million worth of medicines and supplies across four separate attacks on UN-used warehouses since July. Civilian casualties remained at record levels, with September attacks continuing a harmful pattern exceeding previous years.
Recruitment and Trafficking of Foreign Nationals
In addition to attacks on infrastructure, the Commission cited compelling evidence that Russian authorities recruited men trafficked from 29 countries into their armed forces, breaching international human rights law. These recruits were deployed to front lines in Ukraine for hazardous duties, resulting in numerous deaths, disappearances, and captures. The report details how traffickers used deception and coercion alongside agents in various countries to lure the men, who were then forced to sign Russian-language contracts with the Ministry of Defence upon arrival. The Commission called for the immediate discharge of all trafficked persons from the Russian armed forces. Appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in March 2022, the panel also examined Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure in Russia and occupied areas, though investigators could not assess impacts inside Russia due to a lack of access and official responses.
Source: Cosmo News Desk
