Russia has perpetrated a range of war crimes during its war in Ukraine, according to a United Nations commission.
The country has committed a wide range of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in Ukraine, according to a report from the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine released on Thursday.
The report claims that the war crimes carried out by the Russians included attacks on civilians and energy-related infrastructure, willful killings, unlawful confinement, torture, rape and other sexual violence, as well as unlawful transfers and deportations of children.
The report also documented a small number of violations perpetrated by the Ukrainian forces, including likely indiscriminate attacks and two incidents qualifying as war crimes, where Russian prisoners of war were shot, wounded and tortured, according to a UN statement.
Some more background: This week, the International Criminal Court said it is planning to open two war crimes cases tied to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and issue arrest warrants against several people, according to The New York Times and Reuters, citing current and former officials with knowledge of the decision who were not authorized to speak publicly.
In February, the US government said it had determined that Russia has committed crimes against humanity.
Back in March 2022, the US government declared that members of the Russian armed forces had committed war crimes in Ukraine.
