UN Commission of Inquiry: Russia Committed War Crimes by Targeting Civilians

Attacks on energy facilities

In its latest report, the commission noted that attacks on power plants had increased again across various regions of Ukraine. The infrastructure is essential to the population, especially when winter temperatures can fall to minus 21 degrees Celsius, as they did during the previous winter.

Investigators stated that the Russian commanders who ordered the attacks knew the targeted heating facilities were essential to civilians during the winter. The commission also noted official statements by Russian authorities concerning plans for further attacks. Based on these findings, investigators concluded that the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects had been committed.

Older people face serious risks

The report highlighted the severe impact of disruptions to electricity, water, and heating on older people. A 53-year-old man described his fear of falling asleep and never waking up because he might die from the cold. He said the fear felt like torture.

A 74-year-old woman from Kyiv said she had to lie down while cold and hungry, without medication. Like many other older people, she was unable to use the stairs and was afraid to use the elevator. This prevented her from reaching a safe place when air raid warnings sounded.

According to the commission, these limitations forced some older people to remain in homes without heating, electricity, or water. They also lost access to life-support devices and essential services.

Investigation covers multiple regions

The commission was established by the UN Human Rights Council in March 2022, shortly after Russian forces entered Ukrainian territory. For its latest report, the panel, comprising Erik Møse, Pablo de Greiff, and Vrinda Grover, relied on testimony from 255 people who endured the winter under severe conditions.

Testimony was collected from the regions of Dnipro, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Zaporizhzhia, and Zhytomyr. The commission also obtained information from Ukrainian authorities, doctors, and nongovernmental organizations.

Investigators also examined attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces on energy infrastructure in Russia and Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. However, they said they were unable to investigate the impact in Russia because they were not granted access and their requests for information received no response from local authorities.

Alleged recruitment through human trafficking

The commission also said there was strong evidence that Russian authorities had recruited trafficked men from 29 countries into the armed forces. The practice was deemed to violate international human rights law and was carried out through deception and coercion involving agents in various countries.

According to the report, the men were forced to sign Russian-language contracts with the Ministry of Defense shortly after arriving. They were then sent to the front lines and assigned dangerous duties. Many of them were reportedly killed or went missing, while others surrendered or were captured by Ukrainian forces and became prisoners of war.

The wife of a man recruited from the Caribbean said her husband’s passport was confiscated and he was pressured to sign a contract available only in Russian. The commission called for all people recruited through human trafficking to be released from the Russian armed forces.