UN commission finds Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy grid amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity

In brief

• A UN commission of inquiry says Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy system amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
• The commission names Putin, Shoigu, Belousov and Gerasimov as the main perpetrators.
• Strikes using hundreds of drones and missiles have grown more frequent and intense, and the campaign has lasted more than four years.

Commission's findings

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, a UN body, has found that Russia deliberately targeted civilian objects through continuous strikes on Ukraine's energy system, which amounts to war crimes (Незалежна комісія ООН визнала російські удари по енергетиці злочином проти людяності – Suspilne) (UN calls Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure crimes against humanity – Ukrinform) (Удари РФ по енергетиці України є воєнними злочинами та злочинами проти людяності, — комісія ООН – Espreso). The commission also classified the attacks as crimes against humanity, describing them as other inhumane acts. Its report, which is to be presented to the UN General Assembly, states that the strikes were carried out in line with state policy aimed at depriving civilians of electricity and other vital services and causing them suffering.

Those named

According to a report obtained by CNN, the commission identifies Putin, former defence minister Sergei Shoigu, his successor Andrei Belousov and chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov as the main perpetrators (Комиссия ООН обвинила Россию в преступлениях против человечности из-за ударов по энергетике Украины – Charter 97). The commission stated that Russian commanders who ordered the attacks knew heating facilities in large towns were indispensable to civilians, particularly in winter. Russian authorities also publicly announced further strikes and plans to carry them out.

Scale of the attacks

The commission reported that waves of attacks involving hundreds of drones and missiles launched at once had become more frequent, more intense and had reached more regions over the years. It examined the effects of the massed strikes, especially in the winter of 2025–2026, and their cumulative impact since autumn 2022. Commission chair Erik Møse said attacks had intensified again as temperatures dropped, raising serious concern for civilians' lives and health. According to the commission, the campaign has lasted more than four years («Холод и тьма как оружие». В МИД отреагировали на доклад комиссии ООН, которая квалифицировала российские атаки на энергетику как военные преступления – NV).

Reactions

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry welcomed the findings and called on the international community to increase support for Kyiv and to press for Russia to be held accountable. The ministry said it highly values the commission's independent work in documenting violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.

Context

The commission also said Russia had recruited foreign nationals to fight on its side in Ukraine. The report's conclusions are not binding but add to the documentation that may be used in future accountability processes.