The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued two war crimes charges against Russian commanders for targeting Ukraine's electrical infrastructure, marking a significant legal action amidst the ongoing conflict. The charges, as outlined by ICC's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, are based on the premise that the electrical infrastructure is civilian in nature and not a military target, and even if considered military, the resulting civilian harm during winter was disproportionate. Khan suggests that these charges could be the beginning of more to come. This development follows a statement describing the campaign as a course of conduct against a civilian population, implicating state policy and potential responsibility for crimes against humanity. Despite the issuance of arrest warrants, Moscow has ignored these warrants for its commanders. Questions have been raised regarding the absence of charges against higher-ranking officials, given the belief that such operations would not have been possible without approval from the top of the chain of command.
No one believes senior Russian military commanders would have targeted Ukraine's electrical infrastructure without Putin's approval. He is at the top of the chain of command. Why didn't International Criminal Court prosecutor @KarimKhanQC charge him too? https://t.co/L8jcoEN1F5
Two bases for International Criminal Court war-crime charges against senior Russian military commanders: 1. Electrical infrastructure is civilian, not a military target. 2. Even if treated as military, the civilian harm (in winter) was disproportionate. https://t.co/L8jcoEN1F5
Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow ignores arrest warrants for Putin commanders https://t.co/dkFTy3jHBx
US State Department comments on ICC arrest warrants for Russian military leaders https://t.co/MIfqtbgT3X
In issuing two war crimes charges against Russian commanders for targeting electrical infrastructure in Ukraine, International Criminal Court chief prosecutor @KarimKhanQC suggests that more charges are in the works. As they should be. https://t.co/DmBINvPYHA
“The alleged campaign of strikes qualifies as a course of conduct involving the multiple commission of acts against a civilian population, pursuant to a State policy.There are reasonable grounds to believe that the suspects also bear responsibility for the crime against humanity” https://t.co/ce6p85KZxn