Print Print    Close Close

Russia's invasion of Ukraine: State Department launches unit to document alleged war crimes

By Paul Best

Published May 17, 2022

Fox News
People of Bucha, Ukraine attempt to recover following the Russia invasion Video

The State Department launched a program dubbed the "Conflict Observatory" this week to document and analyze alleged war crimes by Russian forces in Ukraine. 

"No country – no matter how large, how potentially powerful, what types of weapons they may have in their arsenal – can escape accountability for the types of atrocities that we have seen Russia’s forces perpetrate against the Ukrainian people," State Department spokesperson Ned Price said at a news conference on Tuesday. 

At least 3,380 civilians have been killed in Ukraine since Putin launched the invasion on Feb. 24, though the United Nations warns that the actual count is likely much higher. 

PRO-RUSSIA OFFICIAL CLAIMS 16,000 UKRAINIAN TROOPS ENCIRCLED IN DONBAS

About 6.2 million refugees have fled Ukraine and millions more have been displaced inside the country. 

Russian forces have also been accused of using banned weapons, like vacuum bombs and cluster munitions. 

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW

  • Ukrainian soldiers recover the remains of four civilians in Bucha
    Image 1 of 3

    Ukrainian soldiers recover the remains of four killed civilians from inside a charred vehicle in Bucha, outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 5, 2022.  (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

  • Ukraine Russia war civilians
    Image 2 of 3

    A resident looks for belongings in an apartment building destroyed during fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces in Borodyanka, Ukraine, on Tuesday. (AP/Vadim Ghirda)

  • The body of a Ukrainian man in a Andriivka field
    Image 3 of 3

    The body of Anton Ischenko, 20, a Ukrainian man who died while his village was occupied by Russian troops, lies in a field in Andriivka, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 5, 2022.  (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

The new Conflict Observatory will use satellite imagery, social media, and other methods to gather evidence of alleged war crimes, which could be used in future criminal proceedings. 

"The program encompasses the documentation, verification, and dissemination of open-source evidence regarding the actions of Russia’s forces during President Putin’s brutal war of choice," the State Department said. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

An online platform will also be made publicly available in order to counter Russia's disinformation about their military's actions in Ukraine, according to the State Department. 

The International Criminal Court sent a 42-member team to Ukraine to investigate the atrocities on Tuesday. 

Paul Best is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to Paul.Best@fox.com and on Twitter: @KincaidBest. 

Print Print    Close Close

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/world/russia-invasion-ukraine-state-department-launches-unit-document-war-crimes

  • Home
  • Video
  • Politics
  • U.S.
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Health
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • World
  • Sports
  • Weather
  • Privacy
  • Terms

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. © FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.Do Not Sell my Personal Information - New Terms of Use - FAQ