Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that he believes Russian forces are committing war crimes in Ukraine, citing the reported murder of civilians and shelling of non-military targets by invading forces.
“Intentionally targeting civilians is a war crime,” Blinken told reporters. “After all the destruction of the past few weeks, I find it difficult to conclude that the Russians are doing otherwise.”
Blinken specifically called out Russian troops for intentionally bombing a theater in the southern city of Mariupol where hundreds of civilians, including children, were sheltering. He also noted a brutal shooting in the northern city of Chernihiv, where Russian forces gunned down at least 10 Ukrainian citizens standing in line for bread.
“These incidents join a long list of attacks on civilian, non-military locations across Ukraine, including apartment buildings, public squares and last week, a maternity hospital in Mariupol,” Blinken said.
A building in Donetsk damaged by shelling. EPA“I doubt that any of us who saw those images will ever forget.”
Later in the briefing, the secretary emphasized that America’s focus is “first and foremost is on doing everything we can to help bring this war to a quick stop the suffering of the Ukrainian people.”
“We’re also looking very carefully at what is happening, what is being done,” Blinken continued. “And in particular, looking at the question of whether war crimes are being committed.”
Blinken spoke out one day after President Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin “a war criminal” in response to a reporter’s question following a White House event.
America’s top diplomat declined to say what might happen if the State Department formally determines war crimes have taken place.
A video still of refugees taking shelter in Donetsk. AZOV Media“I’m not going to get ahead of what the outcome will be, or what the consequences will be. But I can say with conviction that there will be accountability for any war crimes that occurred,” Blinken told reporters, adding that evidence is being collected and processed.
Shortly before the briefing, the State Department confirmed the death of a second American citizen amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
James Whitney Hill — whose death was confirmed by his sister on social media — was killed by heavy artillery attacks on unarmed civilians in Chernihiv, north of Kyiv.
The State Department has yet to confirm Hill was killed, but told The Post, “We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss.”
When asked about potential Ukrainian refugees seeking asylum in the US, Blinken suggested that many evacuees will likely wish to stay in Europe to be closer to home — a frequent Biden administration talking point.
Blinken backed President Biden’s assertion that Russia’s actions amounted to “war crimes.” Bloomberg via Getty Images“As the numbers increase, as the work increases for European partners, we will certainly do everything we can to help,” Blinken promised. “So I suspect we’ll have more to say on this in the coming days.”
As of Thursday, more than 3.1 million people had fled the war-torn country.
