United States officially accuses Russia of war crimes in Ukraine

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken formally accused Russia of war crimes in Ukraine on Wednesday, citing Russia’s blatant attacks on Ukrainian civilian targets since its unprovoked invasion about a month ago.

Speaking in front of reporters, Blinken detailed some of Russia’s transgressions in Ukraine, saying, “Russia’s forces have destroyed apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, critical infrastructure, civilian vehicles, shopping centers, and ambulances, leaving thousands of innocent civilians killed or wounded.” 

Blinken frequently referred back to Russia’s unrelenting attacks on Mariupol, which have devastated the port city and left civilian sites like a maternity hospital leveled, killing and injuring Ukrainian civilians.

Any alleged war crimes would be tried by a court of law, most likely the International Criminal Court, of which the United States is not a member. The ICC was created in 2002 to prosecute humanitarian and war crimes.