Is Putin committing war crimes in Ukraine? Likely, observers say<\/title><meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Is Vladimir Putin committing war crimes? Likely, but calling him out is unlikely to stop him, observers say\"\/><link rel=\"amphtml\" href=\"https:\/\/amp.usatoday.com\/amp\/6967235001\"\/><meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"Josh Meyer\"\/><meta property=\"article:content_tier\" content=\"premium\"\/><meta property=\"article:opinion\" content=\"false\"\/><link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/user.usatoday.com\"\/><link rel=\"preconnect\" href=\"https:\/\/user.usatoday.com\"\/><link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\"\/><link rel=\"preconnect\" href=\"https:\/\/s0.2mdn.net\"\/><link rel=\"preconnect\" href=\"https:\/\/ads.adaptv.advertising.com\"\/><link rel=\"preconnect\" href=\"https:\/\/search.spotxchange.com\"\/><link rel=\"preconnect\" href=\"https:\/\/static.adsafeprotected.com\"\/><link rel=\"preconnect\" href=\"https:\/\/imasdk.googleapis.com\"\/><link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/ads.adaptv.advertising.com\"\/><link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/search.spotxchange.com\"\/><link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/static.adsafeprotected.com\"\/><link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/imasdk.googleapis.com\"\/><link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/geolocation.onetrust.com\"\/><link rel=\"preconnect\" href=\"https:\/\/geolocation.onetrust.com\"\/><link rel=\"preload\" as=\"fetch\" type=\"application\/json\" href=\"https:\/\/user.usatoday.com\/USAT-GUP\/user\/\" crossorigin=\"use-credentials\"\/><link rel=\"preload\" as=\"script\" href=\"\/tangstatic\/js\/main-q1a2z3643210ff.min.js\"\/><link rel=\"preload\" as=\"script\" href=\"https:\/\/geolocation.onetrust.com\/cookieconsentpub\/v1\/geo\/location\/gnt.otgc\"\/><meta name=\"description\" content=\"Putin's assault on Ukraine fits the definition of war crimes, but the framework to thwart him isn't strong enough to halt his invasion, observers say.\"\/><meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Putin's assault on Ukraine fits the definition of war crimes, but the framework to thwart him isn't strong enough to halt his invasion, observers say.\"\/><meta property=\"fb:pages\" content=\"13652355666,48958576760,156345381090801,110471702456365,6566864515,137698179626815,315942225236045,927427260614748,183850168300771,1443524575938047,251228454889939,158095147555989,115535341805950,236655713446291,1621466394844549,250325640686,177037772444433,1972936962947967,2047091012096533,535551216797440\"\/><meta property=\"fb:app_id\" content=\"215046668549694\"\/><link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2022\/03\/01\/putin-war-crimes-russia-ukraine-invasion\/6967235001\/\"\/><meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2022\/03\/01\/putin-war-crimes-russia-ukraine-invasion\/6967235001\/\"\/><meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"USA TODAY\"\/><meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2022\/02\/28\/USAT\/3bda8d22-4474-4ff8-8281-56be733d352c-AP_APTOPIX_Russia_Space_Putin.jpg?crop=5999,3375,x0,y305&width=3200&height=1801&format=pjpg&auto=webp\"\/><meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"3200\"\/><meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1801\"\/><meta name=\"ROBOTS\" content=\"NOODP, NOYDIR, max-image-preview:large\"\/><meta name=\"google\" content=\"notranslate\"\/><meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"\/><meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\"\/><meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2022\/02\/28\/USAT\/3bda8d22-4474-4ff8-8281-56be733d352c-AP_APTOPIX_Russia_Space_Putin.jpg?crop=5999,3375,x0,y305&width=1600&height=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp\"\/><meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@usatoday\"\/><meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@usatoday\"\/><meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Is Vladimir Putin committing war crimes? Likely, but calling him out is unlikely to stop him, observers say\"\/><meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Putin's assault on Ukraine fits the definition of war crimes, but the framework to thwart him isn't strong enough to halt his invasion, observers say.\"\/><\/head><body id=\"wp_automatic_ReadabilityBody\"><svg style=\"display:none\"><symbol id=\"gnt_svg_external\" viewbox=\"0 0 18 18\"><path d=\"M12.43 5.5H10.5V4H15v4.5h-1.5V6.55l-4.56 4.56-1.06-1.06 4.55-4.55zm1.07 9v-3.75H15V16H3V4h5.25v1.5H4.5v9h9z\"\/><\/symbol><symbol id=\"gnt_svg_video_play\" viewbox=\"0 0 84 84\"><circle stroke=\"#0098FE\" stroke-width=\"4\" fill=\"#303030\" cx=\"40.5\" cy=\"40.5\" r=\"38\"\/><path fill=\"#FFF\" d=\"M56 40.23l-22.5 13.5v-27z\"\/><\/symbol><\/svg><\/p>\n<header class=\"gnt_n\" onmousedown=\"event.stopPropagation()\" onmouseup=\"event.stopPropagation()\">\n<nav class=\"gnt_n_mn\" aria-label=\"Global navigation\"><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"gnt_n_mn_l gnt_n_mn_l__fi gnt_n_mn_ce gnt_n_mn_l__se\" href=\"\/news\/\" data-t-l=\":n|v|c|news\" elementtiming=\"nav-item\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"gnt_n_mn_l gnt_n_mn_ce\" href=\"\/sports\/\" data-t-l=\":n|v|c|sports\" rel=\"noopener\">Sports<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"gnt_n_mn_l gnt_n_mn_ce\" href=\"\/entertainment\/\" data-t-l=\":n|v|c|entertainment\" rel=\"noopener\">Entertainment<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"gnt_n_mn_l gnt_n_mn_ce\" href=\"\/life\/\" data-t-l=\":n|v|c|life\" rel=\"noopener\">Life<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"gnt_n_mn_l gnt_n_mn_ce\" href=\"\/money\/\" data-t-l=\":n|v|c|money\" rel=\"noopener\">Money<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"gnt_n_mn_l gnt_n_mn_ce\" href=\"\/tech\/\" data-t-l=\":n|v|c|tech\" rel=\"noopener\">Tech<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"gnt_n_mn_l gnt_n_mn_ce\" href=\"\/travel\/\" data-t-l=\":n|v|c|travel\" rel=\"noopener\">Travel<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"gnt_n_mn_l gnt_n_mn_ce\" href=\"\/opinion\/\" data-t-l=\":n|v|c|opinion\" rel=\"noopener\">Opinion<\/a><\/nav>\n<\/header>\n<p><main class=\"gnt_cw\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"gnt_pr\">\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_shl\">Putin and Russia’s assault on Ukraine meets the definition of war crimes, but the framework to thwart him isn’t strong enough to halt his invasion, observers say.<\/h2>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el\" aria-label=\"Video - Anti-War rally in St. Petersburg, Russia leads to detainments\">\n<div class=\"gnt_em_vp_w gnt_em_vp_w__ap\" data-g-r=\"vp_tp\" data-c-vt=\"teal\" data-t-pl=\"teal-hero-aplus\"><button class=\"gnt_em_vp_a gnt_em_vp__tp_a gnt_em_vp__tp_a__ap\" data-g-r=\"vp_ap vp_tg\" data-c-vpattrs=\"{"muted":false,"xprp":1,"bContent":false,"an":"usatoday","pn":"USA TODAY","vidNum":0}\" data-c-vpdata=\"{"adsEnabled":true,"awsPath":"news","byline":"Lev Krylenkov via Storyful","canonicalURL":"","contentSourceCode":"STRF","createDate":"2022-02-28T01:01:46Z","credit":"Lev Krylenkov via Storyful, Lev Krylenkov via Storyful","duration":10000,"headline":"Anti-War rally in St. Petersburg, Russia leads to detainments","hlsURL":"https:\/\/hlsmedia.gannett-cdn.com\/authoring\/video-renditions\/51f53a98-fb07-4401-bcfb-b597c25ee03e\/fe6ff6be-2e7d-4491-8510-eb9651e61442\/1080p_30fps,720p_30fps,480p_30fps,master.m3u8?subtitles=6967252001","id":"6967252001","image":{"url":"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/authoring\/video-thumbnails\/51f53a98-fb07-4401-bcfb-b597c25ee03e_poster.jpg","opto":true},"initialPublishDate":"2022-02-28T01:01:46Z","keywords":"Russia,Russian government,Ukraine","mp4URL":"https:\/\/downloadmedia.gannett-cdn.com\/authoring\/video-renditions\/51f53a98-fb07-4401-bcfb-b597c25ee03e\/fe6ff6be-2e7d-4491-8510-eb9651e61442\/1080p_30fps.mp4","origin":"Storyful","pageURL":{"long":"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/videos\/news\/2022\/02\/28\/anti-war-rally-st-petersburg-russia-leads-detainments\/6967252001\/"},"promoBrief":"At least one person was detained by police in St Petersburg, Russia, on Sunday, February 27, during a protest march against Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, video shows.","propertyName":"USATODAY","publishDate":"2022-02-28T01:01:46Z","series":"","ssts":{"section":"news","subsection":"","topic":"","subtopic":""},"tags":[{"id":"83ace4fe-91ef-401f-9b69-96ffed70a69a","name":"Russia"},{"id":"aa7b2862-f537-4725-9832-0ba7ad3a6824","name":"Russian government"},{"id":"45f01b73-499c-4d3c-bfa3-28c943788fa0","name":"Ukraine"}],"title":"Anti-War rally in St. Petersburg, Russia leads to detainments","url":"\/videos\/news\/2022\/02\/28\/anti-war-rally-st-petersburg-russia-leads-detainments\/6967252001\/"}\" aria-label=\"Play video\"><img alt=\"\" class=\"gnt_em_vp_img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/authoring\/video-thumbnails\/51f53a98-fb07-4401-bcfb-b597c25ee03e_poster.jpg?width=660&height=371&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp\" data-g-r=\"vp_po\" elementtiming=\"ar-lead-image\" decoding=\"async\"\/><svg class=\"gnt_em_vp_svg\"><use xlink:href=\"#gnt_svg_video_play\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"gnt_ar_b\">\n<ul aria-label=\"Story Highlights\" class=\"gnt_ar_sh\">\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_sh_li\">Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the overnight attack on Kharkiv “a war crime.”<\/li>\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_sh_li\">The chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court said he plans to open an investigation “as rapidly as possible” into possible war crimes in Ukraine.<\/li>\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_sh_li\">“Is Vladimir Putin committing a war crime?\u00a0Yes. It\u2019s very clear,” said one retired international war crimes prosecutor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">WASHINGTON \u2013\u00a0Russian troops have <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/story\/news\/politics\/2022\/03\/01\/ukraine-russia-invasion-live-updates\/9327835002\/\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">killed hundreds of civilians, including more than a dozen children, and shelled apartment buildings<\/a> and neighborhoods in their assault on Ukraine, realities that qualify Russian President Vladimir Putin as a war criminal, observers say.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Putin\u2019s overnight attack on the residential center of Ukraine\u2019s second-largest city as<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/videos\/news\/2022\/02\/27\/kharkiv-invaded-russian-troops-residents-hide-bomb-shelters\/6965035001\/\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\"> \u201cfrank, undisguised terror. Nobody will forgive.<\/a> Nobody will forget. This attack on Kharkiv is a war crime.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/main><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_rb\">\n<div class=\"gnt_rb_iw\">\n<h2 class=\"gnt_rb_hl\">Subscribe to continue reading<\/h2>\n<p>Access all subscriber-only stories free for 2 months<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"gnt_rb_sb\" href=\"https:\/\/subscribe.usatoday.com\/restricted?gps-source=CPINLROADBLOCK&itm_campaign=2022EVG&itm_medium=ONSITE&itm_source=CPINLROADBLOCK&onSuccessRedirectURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F2022%2F03%2F01%2Fputin-war-crimes-russia-ukraine-invasion%2F6967235001%2F\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":inline roadblock|p|roadblock click|premium - subscribe now\">Subscribe Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer class=\"gnt_ft\"><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"gnt_ft_a gnt_ft_a__fi\" href=\"https:\/\/help.usatoday.com\" data-t-l=\":f|v|c|help\" rel=\"noopener\">Help<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"gnt_ft_a\" href=\"https:\/\/cm.usatoday.com\/terms\/\" data-t-l=\":f|v|c|terms-of-service\" rel=\"noopener\">Terms of Service<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"gnt_ft_a\" href=\"https:\/\/cm.usatoday.com\/privacy\/\" data-t-l=\":f|v|c|privacy-policy\" rel=\"noopener\">Privacy Policy<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"gnt_ft_a\" href=\"https:\/\/cm.usatoday.com\/privacy-policy\/\" data-t-l=\":f|v|c|your-california-privacy-rights-privacy-policy\" rel=\"noopener\">Your California Privacy Rights \/ Privacy Policy<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"gnt_ft_a\" href=\"https:\/\/cm.usatoday.com\/ethical-conduct\/\" data-t-l=\":f|v|c|our-ethical-principles\" rel=\"noopener\">Our Ethical Principles<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"gnt_ft_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/sitemap\/\" data-t-l=\":f|v|c|site-map\" rel=\"noopener\">Site Map<\/a><button class=\"gnt_ft_a gnt_ft_a__cs\" data-g-r=\"base_ottid\" data-t-l=\":f|v|c|cookie-settings\">Cookie Settings<\/button><\/p>\n<p>\u00a9 2022 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC.<\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<link rel=\"preload\" as=\"fetch\" type=\"application\/json\" crossorigin=\"use-credentials\" href=\"\/global-q1a2z3cVydYV17McluOBih0cxYIpm7hIQ.min.json\"\/><noscript><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google-analytics.com\/collect?cd1=custom&cd28=USAT&cd49=tangent&cd171=1&cid=1&ea=pageview&ec=content&el=noscript&t=event&tid=UA-166840762-67&v=1\" height=\"0\" width=\"0\" loading=\"eager\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin\" style=\"display:none;visibility:hidden\"><\/iframe><\/noscript><\/body><\/div>\n<p>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2022\/03\/01\/putin-war-crimes-russia-ukraine-invasion\/6967235001\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] Is Putin committing war crimes in Ukraine? Likely, observers say News Sports Entertainment Life…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29278","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-policy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29278","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29278"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29278\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29278"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29278"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}