UN finds Russia committed war crimes attacking Ukraine's energy grid

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 06:20 · Archive

A UN commission says Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure constitute war crimes, weaponising winter cold against civilians.

A United Nations commission of inquiry has concluded that Russia committed war crimes by systematically attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The attacks have caused widespread suffering among civilians, leaving millions without electricity, heating, water and gas, particularly during the severe winter of 2025–2026 when temperatures fell to minus 21 degrees Celsius.

The commission investigated the cumulative impact of Russian attacks on heating plants, power lines and gas facilities since autumn 2022. It found that the frequency, intensity and geographic range of attacks increased over time, with hundreds of drones and missiles deployed in waves. The electricity cuts have left the elderly unable to reach shelters during air raids and hospital patients without power for critical medical devices.

The commission based its findings on accounts from 255 Ukrainians who endured winter conditions in Kyiv and eight other regions, as well as interviews with government officials, doctors and civic organisations. It concluded that Russian commanders knew the targeted facilities were indispensable to civilians and intentionally directed attacks against these civilian objects, constituting war crimes. The commission also found that Russia recruited men from 29 countries into its armed forces 'through deception or coercion' to fight in Ukraine, in violation of international law.

How it is being reported

• Russia committed war crimes in Ukraine by attacking its energy grid, UN report findsThe inquiry also found evidence that Russia recruited men from 29 countries into its armed forces ‘through deception or coercion’ to fight in UkraineIndependent World · 27 Oct, 06:02
• Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure a war crime: UNUN commission notes Russian weaponisation of cold in nearly five years of attacks on heating plants and power lines.Al Jazeera · 26 Oct, 17:27

In this story: Russia · Ukraine · United Nations · Kyiv · Human Rights Council

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