WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� The Biden administration on Wednesday made a formal determination that Russian troops have committed war crimes in Ukraine and said it would work with others to prosecute offenders, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
鈥淭oday, I can announce that, based on information currently available, the U.S. government assesses that members of Russia鈥檚 forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine,鈥� Blinken said in a statement released as he was traveling to Brussels with President Joe Biden for an emergency summit of NATO leaders.
The assessment was based on a 鈥渃areful review鈥� of public and intelligence sources since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine last month, he said.
America's top diplomat said the United States would share that information with allies, partners and international institutions tasked with investigating allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
鈥淲e鈥檝e seen numerous credible reports of indiscriminate attacks and attacks deliberately targeting civilians, as well as other atrocities. Russia鈥檚 forces have destroyed apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, critical infrastructure, civilian vehicles, shopping centers, and ambulances, leaving thousands of innocent civilians killed or wounded,鈥� Blinken said.
He cited attacks on the civilian population in the besieged city of Mariupol and elsewhere.
Matthew Lee, The Associated Press
