A United Nations Human Rights Commission has declared that Russian drone strikes in Ukraine amount to war crimes, following an extensive investigation into the ongoing conflict.
In a newly released report, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine alleges that Russian forces have deliberately targeted civilians in drone attacks across a 200-mile stretch along the Dnieper River, which divides Ukraine.
“The Russian armed forces have carried out attacks with short-range drones on the right bank of the river, which is under Ukrainian Government control, with full disregard for the civilian population,” the report stated, noting deaths, injuries, and widespread destruction.
The commission, established by the U.N. Human Rights Council in 2022, based its findings on 500 publicly available videos and 226 interviews with Ukrainian citizens. Investigators concluded that the strikes were intentionally coordinated to instill fear among civilians.
The report also accuses Russian authorities of forcibly deporting Ukrainian civilians from their homes, though it stops short of naming individual perpetrators, referring only to “Russian armed forces” and “Russian authorities.”
According to the U.N., civilian homes, public buildings, humanitarian aid centers, and critical infrastructure have been among the primary targets of drone attacks.
While Russia denies deliberately targeting civilians, the U.N. commission noted it was unable to verify Moscow’s counterclaims regarding alleged Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian-controlled areas, citing restricted access and lack of cooperation from Russian authorities.
The investigation also detailed the use of various drone models, including the Russian VT-40 quadcopter and Chinese-manufactured drones, equipped with grenades, mortar rounds, RPG cartridges, butterfly mines, and other improvised explosive devices.
