The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine made a loud statement confirming a terrible truth about Russia’s actions in the war against Ukraine
Representatives of the Ukrainian military agency emphasized that in recent statements, Russian President Vladimir Putin effectively acknowledged Russia’s involvement in a series of war crimes, particularly during missile strikes on civilian targets that resulted in numerous casualties among the peaceful population. Major Dmytro Likhoviy, spokesperson for the General Staff, released a video analysis on his Facebook account, where he detailed how Moscow violates international humanitarian law. They do not hide that strikes on peaceful cities are deliberate war crimes aimed at breaking the morale of the Ukrainian people and defeating the resistance of Ukrainian defenders. New confirmations of Russia’s illegal actions appeared in the context of recent missile attacks, which became tragic news for Ukrainian cities. On April 4, 2025, in Kryvyi Rih, the Russian army launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile that struck a residential neighborhood near Spivdruzhnosti Street. This attack resulted in the deaths of 20 civilians, including nine children, and over 70 people were injured. Official Russian statements claimed that the missile targeted the RoseMarine restaurant, where allegedly a military meeting with NATO was taking place, and about 85 military personnel were supposedly present there. This assertion proved to be one of the brightest lies of Russian propaganda. Video and photos from the scene, taken before the explosion, confirmed otherwise. They clearly show that the missile struck a hundred meters away from the restaurant, which remained practically undamaged; on that day, no military events took place in the venue. Instead, there were civilians—beauty industry workers, conference participants, and ordinary residents. This once again confirms that Russia deliberately targets civilian infrastructure, risking the lives and health of thousands of Ukrainians. An even more tragic example of a war crime was the attack in Sumy, which occurred on April 13, 2025. In the morning, around 10:20, Russian troops launched two Iskander-M/KN-23 missiles, one with a high-explosive warhead, which hit the Sumy State University Congress Center. This building became a victim of Russian terror. A few minutes later, the second missile—equipped with cluster munitions—hit and exploded 150 meters from the target site. Shrapnel and debris injured not only the streets and pedestrians but also people in a city bus passing by and those inside the Congress Center, where public events are traditionally held. As a result of these strikes, 35 people were killed, including two children. 129 others were injured, including 17 minors. It is worth noting that Russian propaganda attempted to distort this tragedy by accusing Ukraine of supposedly committing a series of “war crimes,” including alleged military gatherings in the Congress Center. However, facts tell a different story: no military meetings or briefings took place in the building, and the event participants scheduled for that day did not sustain any injuries. All the victims were peaceful civilians and random witnesses, with only two military personnel—casualty victims passing nearby. Another large-scale attack occurred in the Odesa region on April 19. Russian forces launched a missile strike against regional farms, causing extensive fires and destruction. Fortunately, no civilians or civilian infrastructure were affected. The Ukrainian State Emergency Service reported on the destruction, publishing photos and videos from the scene. This attack again demonstrates that Russia blatantly violates international humanitarian law by systematically and deliberately targeting civilian objects. Violations of international warfare rules by the Russian army are not just crimes but evidence of cynicism and impunity at the highest levels. International humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, clearly defines rules protecting civilian objects and prohibits the use of indiscriminate weapons. Russia typically attempts to justify its actions by claiming that civilian targets are “military warehouses” or “bases with weapons,” but this isnothing more than a conscious disregard for international norms and principles. According to the Geneva Conventions and customary law, any target with a civilian purpose—such as schools, hospitals, universities—has a special status and must be protected. The Sumy Congress Center and other infrastructure facilities where education takes place are such targets. Under international law, attacking them constitutes a war crime. Similarly, the use of cluster munitions in densely populated areas is a clear violation of the prohibition against indiscriminate weapons, as such weapons disperse dozens or hundreds of submunitions over a large area, causing harm to civilians and destroying infrastructure. Although Russia did not sign the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, customary international law has already deemed such weapons prohibited in these conditions. Furthermore, any strikes on educational and health facilities violate commitments to protect civilian infrastructure under the Safe Schools Declaration. Protecting cultural and educational objects is an obligation of any conflict-leading country, yet Russia cynically ignores these norms, further confirming its aggressive and unscrupulous policies. Based on these facts and analyses, the General Staff emphasizes: Russian strikes on civilian objects are not accidental but deliberate and systemic crimes. They violate not only international law but also basic human values. Such actions, according to Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, qualify as war crimes. Recent history has shown that aggressors remain accountable for their actions even years later. Ukraine is resolutely working to find and hold accountable all those responsible for these war crimes. Responsibility and justice are the key to future peace and the restoration of justice in Ukraine. Since the war crimes committed by Russia have no statute of limitations, the global community must unite in the fight for their deserved punishment.