- A UN report indicates that Russia’s air strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure likely violate international humanitarian law, as attacks have severely disrupted power and heating systems across the country.
- Ukraine labels these strikes as war crimes, while Moscow defends its actions, claiming that energy facilities are legitimate military targets.
A UN monitoring body announced on Thursday, September 19, 2024, that Russia’s air strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure likely violate international humanitarian law as Ukrainians brace for a challenging winter following Russia’s invasion.
Since the conflict began, Russia has launched hundreds of missiles and drones targeting Ukrainian electricity generation, transmission, and distribution facilities, with a significant increase in strikes since March.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) highlighted in its report that multiple aspects of Russia’s military campaign against civilian energy infrastructure contravene fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.
The report examined nine waves of strikes between March and August 2024 and noted that Ukrainian cities have experienced extended power outages due to these attacks.
HRMMU officials visited seven damaged or destroyed power plants and 28 affected communities, stressing that the strikes pose risks to Ukraine’s water supply, sewage systems, public health, and the economy. In urban areas, where many homes rely on centralised heating and hot water systems, the impact has been particularly severe; nearly 95% of Kyiv’s residents depend on electric pumps for heating.
Kyiv has condemned the targeting of its energy systems as a war crime, and the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for four Russian officials in connection with the bombing of civilian infrastructure. In response, Moscow claims that energy facilities are legitimate military targets and has dismissed the charges against its officials.
The ongoing conflict has left millions of Ukrainians facing the prospect of a harsh winter without reliable access to heat and electricity.