Ukraine's Human Rights Chief Petitions UN Over Dam Destruction Near Kostiantynivka.

Statement by Dmytro Lubinets on the Dam Attack

According to UATV: Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, has formally appealed to the United Nations. In his letters, he demands that the UN officially record the destruction of a dam near Kostiantynivka and provide an international legal assessment, classifying Russia's actions as a war crime. According to available information, a Russian airstrike targeted the dam in Osykove on February 25, 2023, leading to severe consequences.

Consequences of Dam Destruction

In a message published on Telegram on February 27, 2023, Lubinets also referenced the aftermath of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam breach. The Commissioner stressed that dams are granted special protection under international humanitarian law. This underscores the critical need to safeguard civilian infrastructure and prevent its destruction during armed conflicts.

“The world has no right to remain silent. Impunity for such crimes paves the way for new tragedies.” - Dmytro Lubinets

This appeal forms part of a broader international campaign to highlight war crimes committed during the conflict in Ukraine. The targeting of dams, which are strategically vital for civilian populations, triggers profound environmental and humanitarian crises requiring urgent intervention from global institutions. Attacks on critical civilian infrastructure like dams are widely condemned under the Geneva Conventions. It is imperative that the international community takes decisive action to uphold human rights and accountability in wartime.