UN panel: Russia is committing crimes against humanity by targeting civilians in Ukraine

Key Points:

• An independent UN investigation panel has accused Russia of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity by intentionally targeting Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure, causing widespread suffering and deprivation, especially during winter.
• The report highlights that Russian attacks on Ukrainian power systems were deliberate and aligned with state policy to deprive civilians of essential energy supplies, leading to deaths and medical emergencies related to cold exposure.
• High-ranking Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, former and current Defence Ministers Sergei Shoigu and Andrey Belousov, and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, are named as responsible for planning and overseeing these attacks.
• The commission also found evidence that Russia has engaged in human trafficking by coercing foreign nationals from 29 countries into military service through deception and abuse, violating their fundamental human rights.
• In contrast, foreign nationals joining the Ukrainian armed forces reportedly do so voluntarily, with an understanding of their contracts and receiving salaries, according to testimonies collected by the commission.