The Associated Press and NPR’s Frontline has launched a project tracking war crimes allegedly committed by Russian troops in Ukraine, including dozens of reports of attacks on hospitals and medical personnel.
In the month since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, various outlets have reported the intentional shelling and bombing of locations that could constitute war crimes in any tribunal that would be convened after the war. Although not included in the initial list, like attacks on nuclear facilities, the list will grow as AP reporters confirm and document reports.
“For reports that have not been witnessed by AP journalists, a team of AP reporters is working to verify the events. Reporters use a variety of tools to geolocate images posted on social media, compare them to earlier photographs or satellite imagery, and confirm their veracity,” the site notes. “Journalists seek out corroborating social media posts and published witness accounts, and they try to interview additional witnesses to the events. AP reporters also look for official confirmation of attacks from an array of sources, including the Ukrainian and Russian military and governments, as well as international organizations such at the United Nations. Only after an event is independently verified by the AP do we include it in War Crimes Watch Ukraine.”