The Russian military assault on the Ukrainian city of Mariupol between March and May 2022 left thousands of civilians dead and injured, including many in apparently unlawful attacks, and trapped hundreds of thousands for weeks without basic services. Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials should be investigated and appropriately prosecuted for their role in apparent war crimes committed by Russian forces during the fighting there, and Russia should provide reparations to victims of laws-of-war violations and their families. Our City Was Gone’: Russia’s Devastation of Mariupol, Ukraine,” analyzes the civilian suffering and damage to thousands of buildings, including several hundred high-rise apartments, hospitals, educational facilities, and electricity and water infrastructure. They describe repeated attempts by Ukrainian officials and international agencies to organize official evacuations and aid deliveries in the face of Russian obstruction.

Fighting in Khartoum and elsewhere has put Sudan’s population at risk. In this Twitter Space, experts discuss the struggles facing Sudanese people, and the urgent need for international response to address the cyclical violence in the country.

Apparent War Crimes in Border Conflict

Countries should endorse and implement a new political declaration protecting civilians from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.

On September 30, an attack on an educational center in Kabul, Afghanistan, left more than 100 students dead or injured. Most of them were girls. Join HRW’s Fereshta Abbasi and Sahar Fetrat in conversation with Birgit Schwarz.

HRW’s Fereshta Abbasi and John Sifton discuss the ISIS group targeting religious minorities in Afghanistan.

Following an emergency UN Security Council meeting on the Russia-Ukraine war, Louis Charbonneau and Rachel Denber discuss HRW’s investigation into war crimes and human rights abuses.

Scores Killed and Wounded in Apparent War Crime in Chernihiv

Indiscriminate Attacks May Amount to War Crimes

4 Civilians Killed, 10 Wounded