HRC Votes To Start Russia War Crimes Probe

The UN Human Rights Council has voted by a margin of 33 to two (with 11 abstentions) to begin a probe into alleged "abuses of human rights and serious violations of international humanitarian law" committed by Russian forces in towns and villages near the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

• Only China and Eritrea voted to oppose the probe. India was one of the 11 abstaining nations.
• Resolution includes statement that the UNHRC is "[r]eaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity and unity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, and reiterating the urgent need for the Russian Federation to immediately cease its aggression against Ukraine."
• Russia was suspended from the UNHRC in April, with more than two-thirds of participating nations voting against Russian participation.
• Russia has previously said it does not target civilians in its military operation in Ukraine.
• The inquiry is unlikely to have any impact on Russia's actions, but could serve to further bolster the resolve of Western and Western-aligned nations in enacting sanctions on the Putin gov't and Russian economy.