UN calls Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy system a crime against humanity
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Atlanticcouncil
A UN independent commission of inquiry says Russian strikes on Ukraine’s civilian power grid constitute a crime against humanity. Its report, published on 26 October, says the attacks aim to deprive the population of electricity and other essential services, according to UN investigators.
Russian strikes on Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure constitute a crime against humanity, according to experts from the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine. In a report published on 26 October, investigators also accuse Russia of committing war crimes by deliberately targeting civilians.
The experts say the attacks aimed to deprive Ukrainians of electricity and other essential energy-dependent services in order to cause suffering. They cite statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin calling for preparations for massive strikes on Ukraine’s energy system, as well as posts by Russia’s Defence Ministry referring to freezing the population during winter, the Atlantic Council reports.
The findings come as Ukraine prepares for its fifth winter of war. Russia’s air campaign is intensifying as the cold season approaches, while plans attributed to the Kremlin and shared by Kyiv with international media reportedly describe a nationwide bombardment intended to trigger a humanitarian crisis and make Ukraine’s major cities uninhabitable, according to the Atlantic Council.
The report is part of a series of UN investigations into the conflict, following the publication on 27 October of findings on the forced recruitment of foreigners by the Russian army.
