U.S. government formally accuses Russia of committing war crimes in Ukraine

3 yıl önce

A damaged military vehicle is seen as civilians are evacuated along humanitarian corridors from the Ukrainian city of Mariupol under the control of Russian military and pro-Russian separatists, on March 21, 2022.

Stringer | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Antony Blinken formally announced Wednesday that the United States government believes that Russia has committed war crimes in Ukraine.

In a statement, Blinken repeatedly raised the brutality in the city of Mariupol, Ukraine and he compared it to similar Russian campaigns against Grozny in the Second Chechen War and Aleppo during the Syrian civil war.

People gather near a block of flats, which was destroyed during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 17, 2022.

Alexander Ermochenko | Reuters

"Russia's forces have destroyed apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, critical infrastructure, civilian vehicles, shopping centers, and ambulances, leaving thousands of innocent civilians killed or wounded," said Blinken.Â

"Many of the sites Russia's forces have hit have been clearly identifiable as in-use by civilians.Â This includes the Mariupol maternity hospital ... and a strike that hit a Mariupol theater, clearly marked with the word "Ð´ÐµÑÐ¸" â Russian for "children" â in huge letters visible from the sky," he said.

This image made available by Azov Battalion, shows the drama theater, damaged after shelling, in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday March 17, 2022. Rescuers are searching for survivors in the ruins of a theater ripped apart by Russian airstrikes.

Azov Battalion | AP

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