In the early hours of February 28, Russian military forces targeted Ukraine using an Iskander-M ballistic missile from the Voronezh region, alongside 105 drones of various types, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
The drones were reportedly launched from multiple locations, including Bryansk, Kursk, and occupied Crimea. Ukrainian defense units, including aviation and anti-aircraft missile troops, engaged in countermeasures against the assault.
By 8:00 AM, Ukrainian forces had reportedly intercepted or neutralized 96 enemy drones, including Shahed and Gerbera models, across northern, southern, and eastern regions of the country. However, six drones managed to strike, causing debris to fall in seven different locations.
Russian military operations frequently involve attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure using various weaponry, including drones and missiles. These actions have drawn condemnation from both Ukrainian authorities and international organizations, which classify them as war crimes.
Officials assert that the strikes aim to disrupt essential services, including electricity, heating, water supply, and medical assistance, raising concerns over potential genocidal actions against the Ukrainian population. Legal experts and human rights advocates argue that the systematic targeting of civilians aligns with definitions of genocide.
The 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide obligates signatory nations to prevent and penalize acts of genocide during both wartime and peacetime.
According to the Convention, genocide includes actions intended to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. Indicators of genocide can include the killing of group members, causing serious bodily or mental harm, and deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to bring about the group’s destruction.
Despite the evidence, Russian leadership denies that its military deliberately targets civilian infrastructure, claiming that such actions are not part of their operational strategy.
Russian forces launched a significant attack on Ukraine on February 28, utilizing missiles and drones, prompting a robust defensive response. The ongoing strikes against civilian infrastructure have raised serious allegations of war crimes and potential genocide, as international legal frameworks are invoked to address these actions.