Official Statement Declares Russian Military War Criminals; Victim Data Included

The United States government officially declared the Russian military as war criminals.

"Today we are announcing that, based on currently available information, the U.S. government assesses that members of the Russian military have committed war crimes in Ukraine," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on the official U.S. government website on Wednesday (March 23).

Blinken said this statement is based on a number of credible reports indicating that the Russian military has carried out numerous brutal attacks intentionally targeting civilians.

"Russian forces have destroyed apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, critical infrastructure, civilian vehicles, shopping malls, and ambulances, causing thousands of innocent civilians to be killed or injured," Blinken said.

"Every day Russian forces continue their brutal attacks, the number of innocent civilians killed and injured increases, including women and children," he continued.

Civilian Casualties in Ukraine Reach 2,571

According to data from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), civilian casualties in Ukraine due to the Russian invasion have reached 2,571 as of March 22, 2022, local time.

Of this number, there were 977 deaths, with a breakdown of 183 adult male victims, 144 adult female victims, 27 boys, and 12 girls.

There were also 42 child victims and 556 adults whose gender was unidentified.

The OHCHR also recorded 1,594 injuries, comprising 174 adult males, 136 adult females, 20 boys, and 24 girls.

There were also 64 injured children and 1,176 adults whose gender was unidentified.

The OHCHR believes the actual number of casualties is higher than recorded. Data collection on casualties is still experiencing significant delays and obstacles due to the ongoing war.

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