UN Inquiry Finds Russian Attacks on Ukraine’s Civilians and Power Grid Are War Crimes

WHO:

ABC News US - A U.N.-backed inquiry reported that Russia committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine through intentional attacks on energy infrastructure.

CNN - The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine said Russia was committing war crimes and crimes against humanity by intentionally attacking civilian infrastructure, including energy systems.

CNN - The commission named Russian President Vladimir Putin, former Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Defence Minister Andrey Belousov, and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov as officials it considered most responsible.

CNN - The commission said Putin made statements concerning instructions to attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure; it said evidence indicated Shoigu, Belousov, and Gerasimov were responsible for planning and overseeing attacks.

CNN - The International Criminal Court had issued arrest warrants against Putin, Shoigu, and Gerasimov for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

CNN - The commission found evidence that Russian authorities, working with agents, trafficked people from 29 countries to recruit them into Russia’s armed forces.

CNN - The commission said testimonies showed foreign nationals joining Ukraine’s armed forces did so knowingly and voluntarily, understood their contracts, and received salaries.

WHAT:

ABC News US - The attacks left millions of people without electricity and heat in freezing temperatures.

CNN - The commission said the attacks were intentional and aligned with Russia’s “state policy to deprive the civilian population from essential energy supplies and cause suffering.”

CNN - The report said Russian commanders knew the targeted heating facilities were indispensable to civilians, particularly in winter.

CNN - Kyiv said large-scale Russian drone and missile attacks reduced thermal power generation capacity by 70 per cent in the areas most affected.

CNN - Medical authorities documented deaths caused by low temperatures in homes and hospitals. Hospital staff reported treating patients for frostbite and hypothermia after exposure to unheated homes.

CNN - A woman in Dnipro said: “Cold—it paralyzes you; there’s simply no way to get warm, and terrifying thoughts come into your mind.”

CNN - The commission said Russia’s recruitment methods violated recruits’ fundamental rights, including the rights to life, freedom, health, and humane treatment.

WHERE:

ABC News US - The attacks targeted energy infrastructure in Ukraine.

CNN - The commission cited civilian impacts across Ukraine and quoted a woman in Dnipro, the country’s fourth-largest city.

CNN - The report said recruits were trafficked from 29 countries; CNN reported accounts from people in Africa, India, and Latin America.

WHEN:

CNN - Russian forces had targeted Ukrainian power infrastructure since the early months of the war, which began in 2022.

CNN - Attacks escalated at the beginning of the preceding winter; the report was submitted to the UN General Assembly.

CNN - The commission was established by the UN Human Rights Council shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

WHY:

CNN - The report said attacks aimed to deprive civilians of essential energy supplies and cause suffering.

CNN - Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to Western allies for more ammunition, citing a shortage of air-defence missiles and concern about winter.

HOW:

CNN - The report described Russian attacks using drones and missiles against energy infrastructure.

CNN - The commission said recruitment agents used deception or coercion; promised payments were often diverted, passports and phones confiscated, and family contact interrupted after deployment.

CNN - Russia’s Ministry of Defence announced attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and said: “In winter you will freeze.”

(UPDATED October 27, 2026 01:31 UTC)

A U.N.-backed inquiry says Russia committed war crimes and crimes against humanity by deliberately attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to deprive civilians of essential supplies and cause suffering. The attacks have left millions without power and heat, with hospitals treating people for frostbite and hypothermia, and the commission named President Vladimir Putin and senior military officials as those it considered most responsible. The inquiry also found that Russian authorities and agents trafficked people from 29 countries to recruit them into the armed forces using deception or coercion.