July 24, 2025:
A recent UN report concluded that men of the Russian 61st Naval Infantry Brigade committed war crimes by attacking civilians with drones to terrorize people in southern Ukraine. The victims were often going about their daily routine. But if they were out in the open, they were targets for these frequent drone attacks. The attacks also included ambulances, which were supposed to have some immunity from attack. The Russians ignored that and killed ambulance drivers, medics, and passengers. So far nearly 200 civilians are dead and hundreds more wounded.
Over the last four years, Russian soldiers have been accused of numerous war crimes in Ukraine. Reports via the Russian internet report numerous Russian war crimes against civilians in Ukraine. Many Russian commentators admit that the war in Ukraine is lost and want Putin held accountable for the heavy cost in men, money and prestige. Ukraine will be demanding prosecutions for war crimes and compensation from Russia for damages and numerous atrocities.
The first major war in Europe since 1945 ends with murmurs and recriminations over how it happened and if it could happen again. Last year Ukraine declared it was willing to end the war, if they got back all the Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, that Russia has occupied since 2014. Putin was unwilling to do this. Putin sees ending the war and returning stolen territories as proof that Putin’s War was all for nothing and cost Russia so much. Putin believes admitting defeat would end his quarter century in power. This would open Putin to prosecution. He cannot flee the country because foreign nations indicted him for war crimes many years ago.
Russia also sought to silence their own people. It was declared illegal to spread certain misinformation. There were a few arrests, but that was also unpopular, and the prison system could not handle many Russians convicted of thought crimes.
Continued Russian aggression in Ukraine, including the shooting down of an airliner in 2104 led to Russia threatening to sue in court, but the Russians hesitated because they realized they might find themselves in court for war crimes, which would have an impact on their lawsuit.
In late 2022 Ukraine estimated that the Russian attacks on the economy would require a reconstruction budget of over $350 billion. As the destruction continues in 2023, reconstruction costs increase as well. That has led to serious proposals to use $350 billion in Russian assets in the West that have been frozen, as in kept from Russian control for the duration of the war, for reconstruction of Ukraine. Russia is also accused of more conventional war crimes committed in Ukraine against civilians. Russia is unmoved by the Western threats and accusations and determined to make Ukraine and the West suffer for its role in defeating Russian efforts to conquer Ukraine. The Russian government describes their attack on Ukraine as an effort to defend Russia from NATO aggression. According to Russia their tactics are justified as part of its defensive measures.