According to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the US administration has publicly stated that members of the Russian military forces committed war crimes in Ukraine.
After Blinken, President Joe Biden, and Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman all claimed it was their personal view that war crimes had occurred, the US officially declared that Moscow's soldiers had broken the rules of war.
US Formally Accuses Russian Forces of Committing War Crimes in Ukraine
The US government's decision to submit a formal allegation is a huge step forward after weeks of refusing to state that the airstrikes against civilians in Ukraine were war crimes.
However, it remains to be seen if individuals accused of committing the alleged crimes would face any consequences, as well as whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will be held accountable.
In his statement, Blinken noted "reliable accounts" of indiscriminate and purposeful strikes on people, including the destruction of residential complexes, schools, and hospitals, CNN reported. The State Department expressly mentioned attacks on a maternity facility and a theater in Mariupol. According to the State Department, the Russian term for "children" was written in letters visible from the sky.
The US ambassador at large for global criminal justice, Beth Van Schaack, said she couldn't go into specifics about which acts the US has determined to be war crimes but that the US is "looking at the wide spectrum of activities that Russia's forces are participating in" in Ukraine.
Because neither Russia nor the United States recognizes the International Criminal Court in The Hague, pursuing justice for war crimes committed in Ukraine will be difficult.
The US could still help a prosecution before the court, which had previously opened an investigation into atrocities committed in Ukraine, by assisting in gathering evidence against Russian forces in Ukraine, using some of the vast capabilities it has deployed to track and monitor the conflict.
UN May Cooperate With US Regarding the Issue
A commission of investigation constituted by the UN Human Rights Council might possibly have US cooperation and endorsement, as per WHAS11.
Experts say Russian soldiers and government officials might be punished in countries like Spain and Germany, where legal codes allow universal jurisdiction or the US may file criminal charges. For charges to be filed under current provisions, an American citizen would have to be among the victims, according to US law.
According to Blinken, the conclusion was based on a "careful review" of public and intelligence sources since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last month. The US will share such material with allies, partners, and international organizations entrusted with examining charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, according to America's top diplomat.
According to SCMP, the US could still help a prosecution before the court, which had previously opened an investigation into atrocities committed in Ukraine, by assisting in the gathering of evidence against Russian forces in Ukraine, using some of the vast capabilities it has deployed to track and monitor the conflict.
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