Mirror Exchanges Verbal Attacks Over Ukraine War Crimes

US Vice President Criticized for Child Sexual Assault and Pregnant Women Murder
Russia: "Demonization Is a Scheme to Justify Support for Ukraine and Sanctions Against Russia"

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The United States and Russia engaged in a war of words over whether Russia committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine.

The United States opened fire first.

On the 18th (local time), U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris stated in her speech at the annual international security conference, the Munich Security Conference (MSC), "The United States has officially concluded that Russia committed crimes against humanity (in Ukraine)."

In her speech that day, Vice President Harris described the various allegations of crimes against humanity committed by Russian forces as "barbaric and inhumane."

Vice President Harris mentioned a 4-year-old Ukrainian girl who was raped by Russian soldiers, a pregnant woman who died after a Russian military attack on a maternity hospital, and allegations of indiscriminate massacres of residents in Bucha, Ukraine.

She then emphasized her legal background, saying, "I personally understand how important it is to verify the facts and determine whether those facts violate the law," and stressed, "We have reviewed the evidence of Russia's actions. There is no doubt that these acts constitute crimes against humanity."

The White House, which released Vice President Harris's speech, reported that this part of the speech was met with applause from the audience.

Vice President Harris also stated, "We will hold all those who committed these crimes and their superiors accountable."

Crimes against humanity refer to acts involving widespread and systematic attacks against civilians. Representative examples include genocide, rape, torture, murder, and forced displacement. Those responsible are punished by the International Criminal Court (ICC), a permanent war crimes tribunal.

Temporary cemetery for civilian victims established in the residential area of Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv (Kiyev), the capital of Ukraine. [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Russia immediately rebutted Vice President Harris's remarks.

Anatoly Antonov, Russia's ambassador to the United States, said on Telegram that day, "Amid a hybrid war against Russia, such remarks are unprecedented in their cynicism," and added, "They are intended to demonize Russia." A hybrid war refers to a warfare method that uses not only conventional military force but also political means.

Ambassador Antonov said, "There is no doubt that the United States made these claims to justify its own actions that are currently fueling the war in Ukraine."

Antonov cited the fact that the U.S. once pledged to provide only defensive weapons to Ukraine but has recently sent large-scale weapons such as armored vehicles, artillery, and long-range multiple rocket launchers.

He continued, "Given such remarks and actions, how can we trust the West and reach any form of agreement? From the start, they are acting in the exact opposite direction of their statements."

Criticism that Russian forces committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine has been consistently raised since the outbreak of the war on February 24 last year.

The Russian government has completely denied these allegations, arguing that Western countries, including the United States, are falsely accusing Russia to justify expanding support for Ukraine and imposing sanctions against Russia.

Over the past year, the West has gradually increased the scale of weapons support, from Javelin anti-tank missiles, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), and Patriot advanced air defense missile systems to main battle tanks such as the Abrams and Leopard 2.

Sanctions against Russia have also been steadily strengthened, including halting imports of Russian energy, tightening financial channels, and restricting exports of various weapons, technology-related products, medicines, and daily necessities.

According to major foreign media, several organizations supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a U.S. State Department foreign aid agency, have documented more than 30,000 war crime cases to date.