“Tanks on the Playground”
Attacks on Schools and Military Use of Schools in Ukraine
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, its war against Ukraine has had a disastrous impact on civilian life, killing thousands of civilians, injuring many thousands more, and destroying civilian property and infrastructure. Russian forces committed a litany of violations of international humanitarian law, including indiscriminate and disproportionate bombing and shelling of civilian areas that hit homes and healthcare and educational facilities. Some of these attacks should be investigated as war crimes. In areas they occupied, Russian or Russian-affiliated forces committed apparent war crimes, including torture, summary executions, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, and looting of cultural property. Those who attempted to flee areas of fighting faced terrifying ordeals and numerous obstacles; in some cases, Russian forces forcibly transferred significant numbers of Ukrainians to Russia or Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine and subjected many to abusive security screenings. Russian forces’ countrywide, repeated attacks on Ukraine’s energy and other critical infrastructure appeared aimed at terrorizing civilians and making their life unsustainable, which is a war crime.
January 19, 2024
December 22, 2023
Attacks on Schools and Military Use of Schools in Ukraine
The Consequences of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine for Children in Ukrainian Residential Institutions
Effective Investigation Needed into Acts of Intimidation, Unlawful Surveillance
How HRW Documents Wartime Abuses, Advocates to Protect Civilians, and Promotes Justice
Compelling Ukrainian Civilians to Serve in Russian Armed Forces a War Crime
Paperwork Is Keeping Children Out of School
Bold Measures Needed to End Institutionalization of Children and Adults
Council conclusions on enlargement: Call on Ukraine to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
Damage from Military Use of Schools, Bombing, Shelling, Looting
Violations of These Laws by One Side Do Not Justify Violations By Another
September 15, 2023
Ukraine War, Other Major Conflicts Accounted for Much of the Increase