What war crime claims is Russia facing – and what can be done?
Human rights watch has said the International Criminal Court (ICC) should investigate the Russian bombing of a residential neighbourhood in Chernihiv.
The body is being investigatedafteratleast47peoplewere killedinanattacknotbelieved to be near any other military targets.
It caused damage to a highriseapartmentbuilding,ahospitalandseveralotherresidentialandcommercialbuildings, oneofwhichcontainedapharmacy.
Human Rights Watch interviewed by phone three witnesses to the attack, including adoctorandtwootherchernihiv residents, as well as two additionalchernihivresidents with knowledge of the attack.
They also verified and analysed 22 videos and 12 photographstakenduringtheattack and its aftermath.
The incident is the latest in a series of attacks by Vladimir
Putin’s forces that are now being labelled war crimes.
Even in conflict there are certain rules to be followed, contained in treaties called the Geneva Conventions and a string of other international laws and agreements. They mean civilians cannot be deliberately attacked, nor can infrastructure that is needed for them survive.
Some weapons are also banned due to the level of suffering they cause such as antipersonnel landmines and chemical or biological weapons. Those wounded or sick must also be cared for, including injured soldiers who have protected rights as prisoners of war.
Torture and genocide are also banned, as are offences such as murder, rape or mass persecution of a group, falling under the bracket of "crimes against humanity".
As well as Chernihiv, Ukraine is also saying Russia's attack on maternity and children's wards in Mariupol is a war crime.
Taking place during an agreed ceasefire, three people including a child were killed, with 17 staff and patients injured.
Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, told a news conference the hospital was a “legitimate target” by claiming it had been overtaken by “extremists.
However, even if there is evidence, any prosecutions are unlikely given Russia has not been a member of the court since 2016.