NewsRescue
The United States government has officially declared that Russia committed crimes against humanity during its war in Ukraine.
Vice President Kamala Harris made the announcement during a high-profile speech at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, February 18.
The latest proclamation comes after the US government declared that Russian military personnel committed war crimes in Ukraine.
US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have both stated that war crimes have occurred, with Biden claiming that atrocities committed by Moscow’s troops qualify as “genocide.”
The announcement of the official findings comes just days before the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“The US has formally determined that Russia committed crimes against humanity,” Harris said.
“And I say to all those who committed these crimes, as well as their superiors who were complicit in those crimes, that you will be held accountable.”
Harris revealed some of the information that could be used as evidence of Russia’s alleged crimes against humanity. Harris provided specific examples and official United Nations reports.
“First and foremost, we have witnessed Russian forces commit horrendous atrocities and war crimes since the beginning of this unprovoked war,” the vice president said.
Russian forces have carried out a widespread and systematic assault on a civilian population, including heinous acts of murder, torture, rape, and deportation. “Executions, beatings, and electrocution,” she added. “Russian authorities have forcibly deported hundreds of thousands of people from Ukraine to Russia, including children. Children have been cruelly separated from their families.”
In her speech, Harris cited evidence of indiscriminate attacks on civilians, such as the bombing of a maternity hospital, which killed a pregnant woman, and a theater in Mariupol, which killed hundreds.
The vice president mentioned the horrific images coming out of Bucha of men and women being shot and left to rot in the streets, as well as UN reports of a four-year-old girl being sexually assaulted by a Russian soldier.
“Barbaric and inhumane,” Harris described the situation.
Despite the fact that it may be difficult for Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept responsibility, Harris vowed that the US would “continue to support the judicial process.”