During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian authorities and armed forces were accused of committing war crimes by carrying out both deliberate attacks against civilian targets and indiscriminate attacks in densely populated areas. The Russian military allegedly exposed the civilian population to unnecessary and disproportionate harm by using cluster munitions – a type of weapon that is prohibited by 110 states because of its immediate and long-term danger to civilians– and by firing other explosive weapons with wide-area effects such as air-dropped bombs, missiles, heavy artillery shells and multiple launch rockets.

After Russian withdrawal from areas north of Kyiv, there was a "mounting body of evidence" of rape, torture and summary killings by Russian forces of Ukrainian civilians. There were allegations of forced deportations of thousands of civilians from Russian-occupied Mariupol to Russia, including children, systematic and massive sexual violence and deliberate killing of Ukrainian civilians by members of the Russian forces.

International sanctions have been imposed during the Russo-Ukrainian War by a large number of countries, including the United States, Canada, and the European Union against Russia following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This seminar examines the legal basis for “War Crimes” and the sanctions that have been imposed as well as the historical context for the current war.

We will be joined by Lt. Col. (Ret) Gian Barrecchia, who will offer his expertise from his extensive military background on the military situation and the consequences of the allegations of war crimes.