Grapevine

Russian attacks on Ukraine power grid probably violate humanitarian law: UN

International Energy Agency separately warns that the coming winter would prove to be the ‘sternest test yet’ for Ukraine’s energy grid.

Russian air strikes on Ukraine’s electricity generation, transmission and distribution facilities probably violate international humanitarian law, according to the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU).

The report published on Thursday focused on nine waves of attacks between March and August this year.

HRMMU said it had visited seven power plants that were damaged or destroyed by attacks, as well as 28 communities affected by the strikes.

“There are reasonable grounds to believe that multiple aspects of the military campaign to damage or destroy Ukraine’s civilian electricity and heat-producing and transmission infrastructure have violated foundational principles of international humanitarian law,” the report said.