OSCE confirms Russian war crimes and crimes against humanity

The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has found evidence that Russia's military operations in Ukraine may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, states the "Interim Report on Reports of Violations of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law in Ukraine."

"Based on ongoing activities, ODIHR found credible evidence that the military operations of the Russian Federation during the reporting period were characterized by a general disregard for the basic principles of distinction, proportionality, and security measures provided by international humanitarian law (IHL), which can be equated with war crimes and crimes against humanity," the report reads.

It noted that such actions by the Russian military contributed to the humanitarian catastrophe that resulted from the Russian attack on Ukraine.

In the report, ODIHR documented cases of attacks that can be treated as serious violations of international humanitarian law and can be classified as war crimes by the Russian Federation. Among them is the attack on the Mariupol Drama Theater and the Kramatorsk train station, as well as numerous attacks on schools and hospitals.

(PAP)