UN Commission Finds Russian Officials Committed War Crimes in Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure Attacks
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has concluded that Russian authorities committed war crimes by deliberately targeting civilian objects in a sustained campaign against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. In a report submitted to the UN General Assembly, the Commission found that these attacks also amount to crimes against humanity, citing the immense suffering inflicted on civilians as Russian strikes disrupted essential services across the country.
The investigation examined the effects of the strikes on civilians since autumn 2022, with a particular focus on the last winter. Presenting the findings, commission chair Erik Mose, a former Norwegian judge, said the attacks had exposed civilians to severe hardship. Power cuts left elderly people unable to use elevators to reach shelters during missile and drone attacks, and hospital patients deprived of electricity needed to operate critical medical equipment. The report’s authors emphasized that civilians were forced to remain in unheated dwellings without electricity or water, with no access to life support devices or essential services. The electricity cuts have left millions suffering in frigid winter darkness, creating a humanitarian crisis.
Throughout the war, Russia has consistently maintained that its forces only strike military or military-related targets in Ukraine, or targets used in the interest of the Ukrainian armed forces. However, this claim is contradicted by multiple reports and evidence, including the Commission’s findings. The report named 29 countries—including Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Botswana, Cameroon, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ghana, Honduras, India, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Yemen, and Zimbabwe—highlighting the widespread international concern over the attacks.
The Commission’s conclusions underscore the severity of the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure and its devastating impact on the population. The attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid have not only caused immediate suffering but also constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law. The report serves as a stark reminder of the need for accountability and justice for the victims of these crimes.
Shimanta Das 
