Blowing up of Kakhovka HPP: Greenpeace outlines conditions for possible trial

A trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague over the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant may be possible if there is evidence that specific individuals ordered the destruction of the dam.

The senior legal counsel at Greenpeace International Daniel Simons said this in an exclusive commentary to an Ukrinform correspondent in The Hague.

"There is an active campaign to recognise "ecocide" as an international crime, but the international community has not reached agreement on this yet. However, Article 8(2)(b)(iv) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court makes it a crime intentionally to launch an attack knowing it will cause "widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment which would be clearly excessive in relation to the concrete and direct overall military advantage anticipated". So a war crimes trial in The Hague may be possible under existing law, if evidence becomes available that specific individuals ordered the destruction of the dam. There may be other mechanisms of accountability, we have not conducted a full survey of the possibilities," Simons said. 

As reported, on the night of June 6, the Russian army blew up the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant. Rescue operations and evacuation efforts continue in the danger zone in Kherson region.

The situation remains particularly critical in the temporarily occupied territories, where the Russians have left civilians without any help, while access to these people for Ukrainian rescue services is extremely difficult or impossible.

Photo: Planet Labs