Russia's assault on Ukraine's energy grid is a war crime, UN says

The United Nations has concluded that Russia's persistent and deliberate assaults on Ukraine's energy infrastructure constitute a war crime, according to a report released on October 26. In recent months, Russian forces have intensified their attacks on Ukraine's energy grid in preparation for the upcoming winter, targeting power plants, substations, and gas infrastructure. This follows a directive from U.S. President Donald Trump to cease energy-related hostilities.

Russian commanders were aware that the targeted heating facilities were crucial to the civilian population, particularly during the harsh winter months, according to a UN report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine. Last winter, Russian forces also focused their attacks on energy sources, leaving millions of Ukrainians without power in temperatures as low as -21°C.

The UN report, based on interviews with 255 Ukrainians who endured these conditions, determined that Russian authorities have committed crimes against humanity and other inhumane acts. One interviewee recounted the terrifying experience of staying awake throughout the night, fearing the possibility of falling asleep and dying from the cold. "The scariest thing was to fall asleep and not to wake up; it was like torture to be scared of dying from cold," the man said.

The report highlights that Russia's recruitment of soldiers from third countries through deception and coercion also violates human rights law, classifying it as human trafficking.