Russian Forces, Have Committed
War Crimes in Ukraine, , Says US Secretary of State.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken
delivered the assessment on March 23 as he
accompanies President Joe Biden to meet with NATO leaders in Europe.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken
delivered the assessment on March 23 as he
accompanies President Joe Biden to meet with NATO leaders in Europe.
Today, I can announce that, based on information currently available, the U.S. government assesses that members of Russia’s forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine, Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State,
via AP News.
It also comes a day shy of the one month anniversary
of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
In making the assessment, the U.S. government cites "numerous credible reports" of "attacks deliberately targeting civilians, as well as other atrocities.".
Russia’s forces have destroyed apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, critical infrastructure, civilian vehicles, shopping centers, and ambulances, , Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State,
via AP News.
... leaving thousands of innocent civilians killed or wounded, Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State,
via AP News.
Blinken's statement also cites the devastating bombardment of Mariupol.
Many of the sites Russia’s forces have hit have been clearly identifiable as in-use by civilians. This includes the Mariupol maternity hospital... , Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State,
via AP News.
... and a strike that hit a Mariupol theater, clearly marked with the word 'дети' — Russian for 'children' — in huge letters visible from the sky, Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State,
via AP News.
Blinken reiterated that
the release of the assessment
follows significant
gathering of intelligence.
Our assessment is based on a careful review of available information from public and intelligence sources, Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State,
via AP News.
War crimes have generally been the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court since 2002.
Neither the U.S. nor Russia are members of the judicial body, and the nations don't recognize its legitimacy