Russian air strikes on Ukraine's power grid may breach humanitarian law, says UN

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The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) has reported that Russian airstrikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure could violate international humanitarian law. The report, released on Thursday, examined nine waves of attacks from March to August 2023, which targeted electricity generation and distribution systems. These strikes have disrupted essential services like heating, water, and sanitation for civilians.

The HRMMU suggests that certain aspects of these military actions may conflict with humanitarian law principles. The strikes, which have intensified since March, have led to power outages in Ukrainian cities.

Russia maintains that energy infrastructure is a legitimate military target, while Ukraine claims these actions are war crimes. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Russian officials involved in the attacks.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that Ukraine’s energy grid will face severe challenges this winter, with half of its power generation capacity either damaged or under Russian control.