The UN commission concluded that the Russian authorities committed crimes against humanity by deliberately attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure - the commission also concluded that the Russian authorities are responsible for crimes related to human trafficking for the purpose of recruiting foreigners into the Russian armed forces. These findings were reported by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine in a report to the UN General Assembly on October 26. In assessing the situation, the committee relied on the testimony of 255 people who survived the winter in different regions of Ukraine, as well as information from Ukrainian authorities, doctors and non-governmental organizations. "The committee examined the impact on civilians of large-scale attacks by Russian military forces on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, particularly during the harsh winter of 2025-2026, as well as the cumulative impact of these attacks from the fall of 2022. Every year, systematic waves of attacks using hundreds of drones and missiles become more frequent and intense and cover larger and larger areas, causing significant damage to Ukraine's energy sector," the commission's report states. The elderly and people with limited mobility were particularly hard hit, the report said. Because of the risk of getting stuck in the elevator if the power went out, they were forced to stay in unheated rooms for long periods of time, without electricity, water, or access to necessary toilets. Families with children also suffered: prolonged closures of schools disrupted the educational process, and the lack of heating in the homes led to children getting sick, which created additional difficulties for families. The commission estimated that the Russian commanders who ordered the attacks knew that the heating supply facilities intended in large populated areas were of vital importance to the citizens in the winter. At the same time, the Russian authorities officially announced their intention to continue the attacks, and also referred to the plans to carry them out.

The UN commission concluded that the Russian authorities committed crimes against humanity by deliberately attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure - the commission also concluded that the Russian authorities are responsible for crimes related to human trafficking for the purpose of recruiting foreigners into the Russian armed forces. These findings were reported by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine in a report to the UN General Assembly on October 26. In assessing the situation, the committee relied on the testimony of 255 people who survived the winter in different regions of Ukraine, as well as information from Ukrainian authorities, doctors and non-governmental organizations. "The committee examined the impact on civilians of large-scale attacks by Russian military forces on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, particularly during the harsh winter of 2025-2026, as well as the cumulative impact of these attacks from the fall of 2022. Every year, systematic waves of attacks using hundreds of drones and missiles become more frequent and intense and cover larger and larger areas, causing significant damage to Ukraine's energy sector," the commission's report states. The elderly and people with limited mobility were particularly hard hit, the report said. Because of the risk of getting stuck in the elevator if the power went out, they were forced to stay in unheated rooms for long periods of time, without electricity, water, or access to necessary toilets. Families with children also suffered: prolonged closures of schools disrupted the educational process, and the lack of heating in the homes led to children getting sick, which created additional difficulties for families. The commission estimated that the Russian commanders who ordered the attacks knew that the heating supply facilities intended in large populated areas were of vital importance to the citizens in the winter. At the same time, the Russian authorities officially announced their intention to continue the attacks, and also referred to the plans to carry them out.