{
  "id": 16649934,
  "title": "UN calls Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure crimes against humanity",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/un-calls-russian-attacks-on-ukraines-energy-infrastructure-crimes",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-26T19:13:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ukrinform - Politics",
    "slug": "ukrinform-politics",
    "url": "https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/4178413-un-calls-russian-attacks-on-ukraines-energy-infrastructure-crimes-against-humanity.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has condemned Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure as war crimes and crimes against humanity. The commission investigated the impact of these attacks on the civilian population, particularly during the harsh winters of 2025-2026 and since 2022. They found that the Russian authorities deliberately targeted civilian objects and committed other inhumane acts by conducting continuous attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The attacks, which intensified last winter when temperatures dropped to -21°C, caused millions of Ukrainians to face prolonged disruptions in essential services such as heat, electricity, water, and gas. The commission highlighted the severe effects on the physical and mental health of civilians, including the inability to seek shelter during air raid alerts and the inability to access life-support equipment or basic services. The commission concluded that the Russian authorities issued orders to target vital heating facilities in large population centers, and they have continued these attacks, citing plans for their implementation. The commission also found evidence of Russian authorities recruiting men who were victims of human trafficking in various countries into their armed forces, which is a violation of international human rights. The commission calls for an end to these attacks and for the release of all individuals who were victims of human trafficking from the Russian armed forces.",
  "summary": "The Russian authorities have committed crimes against humanity by attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and recruiting foreign nationals to participate in hostilities on the side of their armed forces in Ukraine, the UN Commission stated.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Interfax-Ukraine",
        "title": "Zelenskyy, President of Estonia discuss peace talks, impact of Russian strikes on energy and railway infrastructure with President of Estonia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/zelenskyy-president-of-estonia-discuss-peace-talks-impact-of-russian",
        "published": "2026-10-26T17:57:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Zelenskyy says peace talks with Russia, US to restart",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/zelenskyy-says-peace-talks-with-russia-us-to-restart",
        "published": "2026-10-26T17:58:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}