The United States has determined that Russia’s actions in Ukraine include both war crimes and crimes against humanity, marking an official recognition of the scale and severity of the atrocities being committed.
Speaking to the press, Ambassador Van Schaack revealed that war crimes have been reported in virtually every area where Russian troops are deployed in Ukraine, with crimes against humanity also being committed as part of systematic attacks on the civilian population.
Two significant categories of crimes have been identified: the forced deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia, and the deliberate targeting of Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure.
Ambassador Van Schaack explained, “The prosecutor [at the ICC] has already moved forward… with respect to the deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied and Russia-controlled areas of Ukraine into Russia.” These charges have led to arrest warrants for President Putin and his children’s rights commissioner.
Furthermore, Russian forces are being investigated for attacks on civilian infrastructure, including Ukraine’s energy grid.
The Ambassador also mentioned that justice is crucial not only for holding perpetrators accountable but also for Ukraine’s future as a democratic and stable nation. “This commitment to justice is a critical part of Ukraine’s democratic future,” she said.
These findings, combined with ongoing investigations, lay the foundation for a broad international effort to ensure that Russia’s war crimes do not go unpunished. The focus now turns to supporting Ukraine’s judicial system and international institutions in pursuing justice, ensuring that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes are held accountable in courts of law.
