UN Panel Accuses Russia of War Crimes Over 70% Hit to Ukraine Thermal Power
Updated
Updated · CNN International · Oct 26
UN Panel Accuses Russia of War Crimes Over 70% Hit to Ukraine Thermal Power
3 articles · Updated · CNN International · Oct 26
Summary
A UN investigative commission said Russia intentionally attacked Ukraine’s civilian energy system as state policy, amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity, and submitted the findings to the General Assembly.
The report said strikes that escalated before last winter were designed to deprive civilians of heat, electricity and water; Kyiv says they cut thermal generation capacity by 70% in the worst-hit areas.
The commission said prolonged outages during temperatures as low as -30C caused deaths, frostbite and hypothermia, including in homes and hospitals, and cited evidence tying responsibility to Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Andrey Belousov and Valery Gerasimov.
Russia’s UN mission rejected the findings as politicized and based on falsified data, while Ukraine said the report confirms years of systematic attacks on civilian infrastructure.
The same report also found compelling evidence that Russia trafficked recruits from 29 countries into its armed forces through deception or coercion, while saying foreign volunteers joining Ukraine did so knowingly and voluntarily.