Experts urge accountability for Russian war crimes in Ukraine

GENEVA (AN) — Russian authorities committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity in Ukraine, an independent panel of human rights experts reported.

The war crimes include killings, torture and illegal confinement, rape and other sexual violence, kidnapped children, and attacks on civilians and energy-related infrastructure, according to a U.N. commission of inquiry's report Thursday.

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine reports to the U.N. Human Rights Council. It investigated abuses, international humanitarian law violations and other crimes since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, visiting 54 locations and interviewing 348 women and 247 men.

"The commission recommends that all violations and crimes be investigated and those responsible be held accountable, either at the national or the international level," the three-member panel concluded. "It calls for a comprehensive approach to accountability that includes both criminal responsibility and the victims’ right to truth, reparation, and non-repetition."

'Elements of planning'

The panel said evidence shows killings of civilians not involved in fighting in areas under Russian control – which amount to war crimes. Indiscriminate attacks with explosive weapons in populated areas violated international humnanitarian law.

Russia's waves of attacks on Ukraine’s energy-related infrastructure may amount to crimes against humanity, it said. Those attacks left millions of people suffering.

It found numerous instances of rape, sexual and gender-based violence committed during Russian house sweeps, including sexual violence tantamount to torture.

The illegal transfer and deportation of children amount to war crimes, it said, with many of the youngest children unable to contact their families.

“There were elements of planning and availability of resources which indicate that the Russian authorities may have committed torture as crimes against humanity,” said Erik Møse, a Norwegian former judge who led the investigation.

Ukrainian forces committed a few violations, it said, including indiscriminate attacks and two war crimes cases in which Russian prisoners of war were shot, wounded and tortured.