The International Criminal Court is investigating Russia’s cyber attacks against Ukraine as potential war crimes
It has been confirmed for the first time that the International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating Russian cyberattacks against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure as potential war crimes. This investigation may lead to arrest warrants if enough evidence is gathered.
About this informs Reuters agency.
ICC prosecutors focus on attacks that threaten the lives of civilians by disrupting electricity, water, communications with emergency services and air raid warnings. The investigation covers cyberattacks carried out since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as well as potential crimes committed as far back as 2015 after the annexation of Crimea.
At least four major attacks on the energy infrastructure of Ukraine came under the close attention of the International Space Station. Special attention is paid to the group of Russian hackers Sandworm, which is associated with Russian military intelligence. This group is suspected of a number of high-profile attacks, in particular, on the power system of Western Ukraine in 2015 and on the Kyivstar mobile operator in December 2023.
Although international law prohibits attacks on civilian objects, the definition of a cyber war crime is still unclear. Experts believe that the ICC investigation can shed light on this issue and set important precedents in international law.
