The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine submitted a report to the UN General Assembly concluding that Russia’s sustained campaign against civilian energy infrastructure amounts to war crimes. The investigation examined years of Russian attacks on heating plants, power lines, gas facilities, and related systems dating back to autumn 2022, with intensification occurring in recent years.
The commission documented that the frequency, intensity, and geographic scope of Russian strikes have escalated significantly, with hundreds of drones and missiles deployed in coordinated waves. The report specifically analyzed the impact during the severe winter period of 2025–2026, when temperatures dropped to minus 21 degrees Celsius, leaving millions of Ukrainians without adequate heating, electricity, water, and gas services. Investigators determined that Russian military commanders ordering these attacks possessed knowledge that the targeted heating infrastructure was essential to civilian survival and welfare.
Based on official declarations from Russian authorities regarding further planned attacks, the commission concluded that these actions violate international law by intentionally targeting civilian objects. Commission chair Erik Mose warned that as the cold season approaches, attacks have intensified again, creating urgent concerns for civilian safety and health. The report noted that Russia and Ukraine continue daily military operations with no apparent ceasefire prospects.
The commission also documented additional violations, including accusations that Moscow engaged in human trafficking related to recruitment of foreign fighters into Russian armed forces in violation of international human rights law. Many recruited individuals have reportedly been killed, gone missing, suffered injuries, or been captured, with documented cases including men from India who were misled into service on the front lines.
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